na-<.e^  ^-■■"'1  jj 


MEMORANDUM. 


This  electrical  handbook  is  one  of  a  series 
of  ten  similar  handbooks  prepared  under  the  aus- 
pices of  the  American  Institute  of  Electrical 
Engineers  by  the  local  Reception  Committees  in  the 
Cities  of  Boston,  New  York,  Schenectady,  Montreal, 
Niagara  Falls,  Chicago,  St.  Louis.  Pittsburg,  Wash- 
ington, and  Philadelphia.  These  are  the  stopping 
places  on  the  circular  tour  organized  by  the  Institute 
for  the  reception  and  entertainment  of  its  foreign  guests 
Avho  visit  the  United  States  in  connection  with  the 
International  Electrical  Congress  at  St.  Louis,  Septem- 
ber 12th  to  17th,  1904.  It  is  hoped  in  these  hand- 
books to  present  short  historical  sketches  of  the  cities 
visited  and  a  rapid  survey  of  the  power  plants  and 
important  electrical  indiistries  along  the  route. 

Pittsburg.  No.     iw9o 


LOCAL  RECEPTION  GOMMinEE 

BOSTON    MASS. 


ELECTRICAL  HAND-BOOK 


THE    PITTSBURG 

ELECTRICAL 
HAND-BOOK 


Being  a   Guide    for    Visitors    from    Abroad 
Attending  the   International    Electri- 
cal   Congress,  St.   Louis,    Mo. 
September,   1 904 


pttBburij 

Published  under  the  auspices  of 

The    American    Institute    of 
Electrical     Engineers 
190^ 


Copyrighted  by  the 

A.  I.  E.  £. 

1904 


PREFACE 

The  Pittsburg"  Electrical  Hand-Book  is  one 
of  a  set  of  ten  descrihini;'  the  electrical  interests 
of  American  cities  including'  Boston,  New 
York,  Schenectady,  Montreal,  Niagara  Falls, 
Chicago,  St.  Louis,  Washington  and  Phila- 
delphia. These  books  are  prepared  especially 
for  the  information  and  guidance  of  visiting 
nii'mbers  of  the  Institution  of  Electrical  PLngi- 
neers.  Great  Britain  and  of  the  Associazione 
Elettrotecnica  Italiana  and  members  of  other 
foreign  electrical  societies  who  \isit  America  to 
attend  the  International  P^ectrical  Congress  at 
St.  Louis,  and  are  the  guests  of  the  American 
Institute  of  P^lectrical  Engineers  on  a  tour  of 
visitation  to  the  cities  above  named.  The  Hand- 
Books  are  prepared  under  the  general  direction 
of  the  Instituti'  1)}'  the  local  committees  in  the 
se\-eral  cities. 

The  Pittsburg  P^lectrical  Mand-Book  contains 
a  general  descrijjtion  of  Pittsburg  as  a  manu- 
facturing and  commercial  center.  The  city 
claims  one  of  the  largest  electrical  manu- 
facturing establishuK'nts  in  the  world  and  one 
which,  starting  in  the  earliest  years  and  main- 
taining its  indixiduality  antl  integrit\'.  stands  as 
one  ot  the  oldest  eh'ctrical  companies  of  its 
kind.  Pittsbiu'g  also  is  prominent  in  pioneer 
work  along  the  piincipal  branches  of  electrical 
ad\"anceiuent.     Man\-  of   the  sxstems   which  are 


now  most  common  and  the  types  of  apparatus 
which  are  most  widely  used  had  th(.-ir  beginning 
in  this  city. 

Sketches  of  a  number  of  Pittsburg  electrical 
operating  companies  show,  in  the  progress 
made  by  these  companies,  the  rapid  adv^ance- 
ment  in  the  electrical  art,  which  has  con- 
tributed materially  to  the  importance  of  the 
city  as  a  great  manufacturing  center.  The 
articles  which  describe  other  than  manufacturing 
features,  such  as  parks  and  railroads,  the 
observatory  and  the  Carnegie  institute,  show 
that  there  is  much  in  Pittsburg  which  is  not 
typified  by  its  smoke. 

The  various  parts  of  this  book  ha\e  been 
prepared  by  representati\'es  appointed  by  the 
interests  which  are  described.  The  writers 
in  general  have  not  merely  considered 
present  equipments  and  facilities  but  have  taken 
more  or  less  of  a  perspecti\e  \iew  so  that  their 
articles  are  interesting  accounts  of  the  steps  in 
the  development  which  have  brought  about  the 
present  conditions.  The  electrical  industry  has 
quickly  taken  its  place  among  the  principal 
industries  of  Pittsburg  and  unless  there  is  to  be 
a  radical  change  in  the  rate  at  which  progress 
and  growth  have  taken  place,  the  Pittsburg 
Electrical  Hand-Book  of  a  decade  hence  will 
take  the  figures  given  in  this  book  as  the  starting 
point  from  which  to  mark  subsequent  de\elop- 
m  e  n  t . 


PITTSBURG  LOCAL  RECEPTION 
COMMITTEE 

Charles  F.  Scott,  Cliairman 

Past  President, 
American  Institute  of  Electrical  En^rineers 

Consulting:  Plngineer, 
\Vestin<rh(mse  Electric  (!v:  Manufacturin^r  Company 


M.  C.  Beebe 
Edward  Bennett 
S.  H.  Browne 
W.  A.  Dick 

A.  C.  DiNKEV 

H.  M.  DoiBLEDAV 

C.  E.  Downton 
H.  P.  Davis 
H.  Etheridge 

B.  Frankenfiei.d 
H.  \V.  Fisher 

S.  P.  Grace 
Arthur  Hartweli. 
v.  m.  hodgkinson 
S.  E.  Johannesen 
E.  v..  Keller 
S.  M.  Kintner 
B.  G.  Lam. me 
P.  A.  Lan(;e 


P.  M.  Lincoln 

J.  W.  Marsh 

A.  E.  MacCoun 

F.  C.  Newell 

L.  A.  Osborne 

J.  S.  Peck 

H.  F.  J.  Porter 

K.  C.  Randall 

Clarence  Renshaw 

C.  E.  Skinner 

F.  H.  Taylor 

S.  N.  Taylor 

N.  W. Storer 

E.  M.  Ting  LEY 

E.  P.  Vankirk 

S.  S.  Wales 

Geo.  Westinghouse 

A.  J.  Wurts 


AMERICAN  INSTITUTE   OF  ELECTRICAL 
ENGINEERS 

Executive  Offices, 
g5  Liberty  Street,  New  York,  X.  Y. 

B.J.Arnold,  R.W.Pope, 

President  Secretary 

J.  W.  LiEB,  Jr., 

Ciiairmaii  International  Electrical  Congress 

Reception  Committee,  A.  I.  E.  E. 

E.  H.  Mullen 

Cliairman  Committee  on  Transportation  and 

Arrangements,  International 

Electrical  Congress 

IQ04 


P I TTSB  UR  GBR  ANCH 

American  Institute  of  Elcitrieal  Engineers 

P.  M.  Lincoln,  J.  S.  Peck, 

Chairman  Secretary 

The  Pittsburg  Brancli  comprises  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  members  of  the  Institute  residing  in  Pittsburg 
and  vicinity.  Monthly  meetings  are  held  and  the  papers 
read  at  the  general  meeting  are  presented  and  discussed, 
supplemented  from  time  to  time  by  new  papers.  The 
meetings  are  held  in  the  assembly  hall  of  The  Electric 
Club,  located  in  Wilkinsburg,  an  eastern  suburb  of 
Pittsburg. 


TABLE   OF  CONTENTS 


Pittsburg,  The  World's  Work  Shop 
Georjie  Westing^liouse 

Pittsburg  Electrical  and  AUitd  Industries 

Westingliouse  Industries 

Westinghouse  Electric  iS:  Manufacturing  Co. 

An  Epoch  Making  Experiment. 

Westinghouse  Machine  Co. 

rnion  Switch  and  Signal  Co. 

Westinghouse  Traction  Brake  Co. 

Nernst  Lamp  Co. 

R.  D.  Nuttall  Co. 

Standard  Undergnuuid  Calile  Co. 

Sterling  \'arnis]i  Co. 

Pittsburg  Electrical  Operating  Companies 

Pittsburg  Railways  Co. 

Allegheny  County  Light  Co. 

Central  District  and  Printing  Telegraph  Co. 

Some  Notable  Features  of  Pittsburg 

Maiuifacture  of  Iron  and  Steel 

Tlie  Farmers  Bank  Buildiitg 

The  Frick  Buikh'ng 

'I'he  Pliipps  Power  Building 

Parks  and  Boule\ards 

Rail  and  River  Trans|)ortation 

Allegheny  ( )V)ser\  ati  irv 

John  A.  Brashear  Company 

Carnegie  Institute 

Carnegie  Technical  .School 


PITTSBURG 

''  The  World's  Work  Sbof' 

General   Sketch  —  Historical — General   Account    of 

Pittsburg' s    Industries   and  its    Present 

Rank  and  Position 


|F    you    take    up    the    map   of   the 
United      States     you     will     find 
upon  l!ie  great  highway  of  traf- 
fic  and    transportation    from   the 
East     to     the     West,     Pittsburg, 
located   at   the   "  Toll   Gate "  be- 
yond     which      the      arteries     of 
travel    diverge    in    all    directions 
over    the    great    West.     "Here," 
said    George    Washington    upon, 
his    visit   to   the   head- waters   of 
the    Ohio,    "  is    undoubtedly    the 
'  Gate  of  the  West,'  and  a  settle- 
ment built  here   is  bound  to  grow  and   flourish  beyond 
the  imagination  of  men."     And  his  prophetic  Vision  has 
come   to   a    partial    realization   as    well    by   unique   geo- 
graphical    position    as    hy    the    possession    of    mineral 
wealth  of  which  Washington   had  no  knowledge. 

Pittsburg  is  the  World's  Workshop,  it  is  the  hub  on 
which  the  wheel  of  .\mcrican  industries  has  lieen 
wrouglit,  and  each  spoke  in  this  wheel  represents  a 
magnificent  activity  whose  distinctive  greatness  may 
be  approaclicd,  l)ut  is  not  surpassed  anywliere. 

Within  the  precincts  of  Piltsljurg  arc  located  upwards 
of  one  hundred  manufacturing  companies,  which  repre- 
sent an  invested  capital  of  two  thousand  million  dol- 
lars, employing  more  than   500,000  \,-orkers.     The  prod- 


l6  The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Hand-Book 

ucts  manufactured  by  these  companies  cover  a  wide 
variety.  Amonij  the  most  important  are  steel,  iron,  plate 
jflass,  tableware,  window  glass,  tin  plate,  steel  cars,  air 
brakes,  electrical  machinery,  steam  engines,  locomotives, 
steel  and  wmuglit  iron  pipe,  coal,  coke,  fire  lirick,  clay, 
cork,  petroleum,  pickles  and  white  lead. 

At  the  head  and  front  of  the  iron  and  steel  industry 
of  the  world  admittedly  stands  the  United  States  Steel 
Corporation,  the  parent  company  of  which,  the  Car- 
negie Steel  Company,  is  located  in  Pittsburg.  As  a 
manufacturer  of  iron,  structural  steel,  armor  plate  and 
steel  rails,  this  establishment  ranks  before  all  others. 
Another  company,  the  Jones  &  Laughlin  Steel  Com- 
pan}%  the  largest  independent  rival  of  the  Carnegie 
Company,  also  has  its  home  here.  To  give  a  compre- 
hensive idea  of  the  importance  of  Pittsburg  as  the  iron 
and  steel  producing  center  of  the  world,  the  following 
figures  for  the  year  1903  will  no  doubt  prove  interest- 
ing: 

Number  of  furnaces,   40. 

Rolling  IMills  and   Steel   Works.  66. 

Production  of  pig  iron,  4,260,769  tons. 

Production  of  Bessemer  steel,  3,094,175  tons. 

Production  of  open  hearth  steel,  2,503.245  tons. 

Production  of  crucible  and  other  steel,  62,888  tons. 

Total   production    of   steel,   5,660,308  tons. 

Production   of  all  kinds  of  rails,  712,286  tons. 

Production  of  structural   shapes.   773,144  tons. 

The  figures  of  coal  production  for  the  Pittsburg  dis- 
trict are   equally  amazing.     During  the   year   1903  there 


Homestead  Mills,  Carnegie  Steel  Co 


The  WorhV  s  Work  Shop  ij 

was  a  total  output  of  22,000,000  tons.  Of  this  amount 
4,000,000  tons  were  used  for  home  consumption  alone;  the 
rest  was  siiipped  by  rail  or  river  to  other  parts  of  the 
country.  While  it  is  difficult  to  determine  positively  the 
coal  deposit  of  the  Pittsbur;,'-  coal  mining"-  district,  the 
amount  yet  unmined  is  estimated  at  10,000,000,000  tons. 

The    Pittsbur^r   district    leads    the    world    in    the    pro- 
duction   (if   coke.     At   the    end   of   the    year    IQ03  there 


()l(i  Block  House 

An  early  fort  for  defense  from  Indian  attack.s,  which  is 

still  standing  in  Pittsburg  near  the 

confluence  of  the  rivers 


were  in  operation  28.092  coke  ovens,  which  shipped 
13,345,230  tons  of  product.  The  average  price  of  coke 
for  that  year  being  $3.00  per  ton,  it  will  be  seen  that 
the  ^ross  revenue  of  the  Pittsburj^  coke  industry  repre- 
sented tiie  enormous  sum  of  $40,035,690. 

Pittsburg  is  likewise  the  center  of  the  glass  industry 
of  the  world,  producing  window  glass,  plate  glass,  table 
ware,   tumblers,   chimneys,   etc.     In   the   manufacture  of 


i8 


The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Hand-Book 


table  ware,  bottles,  tumblers  and  the  like  are  engaged 
1,529  pots;  in  the  window  glass  trade  900  pots,  not  to 
mention  the  tank  factories  of  the  American  Window 
Glass  Companj'. 

During  1903  America  produced  27.000,000  feet  of 
plate  glass,  which  means  this  amount  of  plate  glass  was 
made  in  and  around  Pittsburg,  where  ten  of  the  twelve 
factories  manufacturing  this  product  are   located. 

Lamp  chimneys  made  in  Pittsburg  during  one  year,  if 
laid  end  to  end,  would  stretch  a  distance  of  12,000  miles. 
The  bottles  made  here  during  the  same  time,  if  laid  end 
to  end,  would  measure   16,000  miles. 

The  city  ships  every  year  approximately  2.000,000 
boxes  of  window  glass  from  local  factories,  equal  to 
90,000,000   feet  or  62,000   tons. 

Another  important  Pittsburg  industry  is  the  lumber 
trade  in  which  some  twenty-five  firms  are  engaged,  pro- 
ducing annually  8oo,ooc.ooo  feet  of  lumber  at  an  esti- 
mated value  of  $20,000,000. 

Pittsburg  easily  leads  all  other  cities  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  white  and  red  lead.  With  manufactured  lead, 
such  as   is  required  by  painters  every  day,  selling  at  a 


Pittsburg  in  1800 


The  World's  Work  Shop 


19 


wholesale  rate  of  $110  to  $125  per  ton,  one  can  readily 
see  that  when  carload  shipments  are  made  considerable 
money  changes  hands.  At  least  500  carloads  of  lead 
are  shipped  from  Pittsburg  every  year.  The  lead 
manufactured   in    Pittsburg  has   the   call    in   the   market 


Carnegie  Library 

and  each  of  its  manufactories  has  all  the  trade  it  can 
handle,  at  better  figures  than  are  ofYered  the  manu- 
facturers in  other  localities.  The  reason  given  for  this 
is  that  the  trade  early  a-;certaine(l  that  Pittsburg  was 
making  a  lead  that  had  all  the  elements  of  durability, 
with  the  advantage  of  a  moderate  i)rice.  The  trade 
grew  from  a  small  beginning  until  nt)w  the  city  leads 
in  the  manufacture  of  painters'  lead. 

Pittsburg  was  the  scene  of  the  earlier  development  of 
two  industries  which  were  later  transferred,  in  whole 
or  in  part,  to  Niagara  Falls,  as  they  are  large  users 
of  electric  power.  The  process  (jf  making  carborundum. 
the  modern  abrasive,  yvas  the  work  of  a  Pittsburg  in- 
ventor. The  first  commercial  production  of  aluminum 
bv   the   Hall    i)rocess   was   carried   nn    fur   ;i    number   of 


20 


The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Hand-Book 


|iHi|^,],]l|lli''l''^ 


Allegheny  County  Court  Huust- 

years  in  Pittsburg.  This  industry  has  been  developed 
by  the  Pittsburg  Reduction  Company,  its  product  has 
been  reduced  in  price  from  four  or  five  dollars  per 
pound  until  it  now  competes  with  other  metals  and  is 
largely  used  instead  of  copper  for  electric  conductors. 
The  metal  is  now  produced  at  Niagara  Falls  and  in 
Canada,  while  the  rolling  of  sheets  and  the  drawing  of 
wire  is  carried  on  at  New  Kensington,  near  Pittsburg. 

Pittsburg    has    the    largest    pickling    and    preserving 
works   in  the  world.     It   employs  2,400  hands  and  uses 


Carnegrie  Steel  Company 


The  WorUPs  Work  Shop 


21 


the  crops  from  17,000  acres  of  land.  The  main  plant  in 
Pittsl)urg  occupies  a  floor  area  of  about  thirteen  acres, 
and  in  addition  the  company  operates  eight  branch  fac- 
tories situated  in  States  which  offer  specially  attractive 
conditions  for  growing  products  peculiar  to  its  business. 
The  goods  are  distributed  in  this  country  through 
branch  houses  in  all  the  principal  cities,  and  its  export 
traffic  is  handled  through  New  York  and  branch  houses 
in  London.  The  firm  owns  and  operates  a  glass  works 
to  partly  supply  the  bottles  used. 

The  financial  resources  of  Pittsburg  are  in  keeping 
with  its  commanding  position  in  the  industrial  world. 
In  this  respect  it  is  the  fifth  city  in  America.  In  1903 
there  were  located  within  its  precincts  174  banks  with 
a  total  capital  of  $63,586,322,  a  surplus  of  $75,638,244 
and    total    resources    of   $473,493,980. 

The  name  of  Pittsburg  has  been  linked  with  that  of 
petroleum  ever  since  that  fluid  was  first  discovered  in 
large  wells  within  its  suburbs  in  1859.  The  oil  was 
floated  down  the  Allegheny  river  to  Pittsburg  refineries 
and  from  there  it  was  marketed  the  world  over.  The 
oil  business  has  since  developed  into  one  of  the  most 
stupendous  commercial  enterprises  in  the  world,  and 
although  oil  is  now  found  in  many  other  places  besides 
Western  Pennsylvania,  nevertheless  Pittsburg  is  still 
the  center  of  the  petroleum  n'larket  All  the  machinery 
for  oil  well  drilling  whether  used  in  Egypt.  Russia, 
Siberia,  Austria,  France.  Japan,  Australia,  or  in  Texas, 
is  made  and  supplied  by  Pittsburg.  To  get  an  adequate 
idea  of  the  enormous  oil  business  of  this  district  one 
nnist  remember  that  the  annual  production  of  petroleum 
from  the  wells  in  the  vicinity  of  the  city  amounts  to 
about    50.000.000   barrels,    representing   $60,000,000. 


Carnegie  Steel  Company 


22 


The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Hand-Book 


There  is  another  natural  product  drawn  from  the 
bowels  of  the  earth  around  this  much  favored  city  of 
Western  Pennsylvania :  that  is  natural  gas.  This  fuel. 
discovered  about  twenty-five  years  ago,  was  not  prac- 
tically utilized  until  some  five  years  later.  Air.  George 
Westinghouse,  recognizing  the  wonderfully  economical 
possibilities  of  this  marvelous  gas,  began  to  pipe  it 
into  the  city  for  use  in  private  houses  and  factories. 
Since  then  the  business  has  reached  a  high  state  of  de- 
velopment. There  is  now  a  capital  of  $40,000,000  in- 
vested in  the  natural  gas  business  in  Pittsburg.  The 
fuel  is  brout^ht  to  the  city  and  distributed  throutrh 
2,500  miles  of  pipe.  The  daily  consumption  amounts 
to  iio,ooo,coo  cubic  feet,  used  in  500  factories  and 
among  40.000   families. 

Pittsburg  was  founded  by  the  French,  who,  recog- 
nizing the  strategic  advantages  of  its  location,  erected 
a  fort  at  the  junction  of  the  Allegheny,  Monongahela 
and  Ohio  rivers,  and  called  it  Fort  Duquesne.  They 
held  possession  until  driven  out  by  the  British  and 
colonials,  when  the  name  was  changed  to  Fort  Pitt, 
from  which   grew   Pittsburg. 


Jones  &  Laughlin  Steel  Mills 


The  World's  Work  Shop  2j 

The  earliest  settlers  were  largely  Scotch-Irish  and 
Germans,  a  hardy  lot  of  energetic,  thrifty  artisans.  Its 
location  near  three  rivers  naturally  made  boat  build- 
ing an  early  industry.  In  1794  a  regular  line  of  boats 
was  established  between  Pittsburg  and  Cincinnati. 
With  the  beginning  of  the  nineteenth  century  the  dis- 
covery of  coal  led  to  the  building  of  rolling  mills, 
foundries,  glass  houses,  rail  mills  and  machine  shops. 

In  1804  Pittsburg  had  a  population  of  1,500,  in  i860 
just  before  the  civil  war  the  census  mark  was  49,221. 
Ten  years  later  the  population  had  doubled,  and  since 
that  time  the  increase  has  been  so  rapid  that  at  the 
last  official  census  it  had  reached  the  figure  of  324,744  for 
the  city  proper,  and  approximately  twice  tiiat  numl)er 
for  Pittsburg  and  tlie  immediate  vicinity. 

These  figures  refer  to  the  corporate  limits  of  the  city 
of  Pittsburg.  If  the  population  of  the  sister  city  of 
Allegheny  and  the  immediate  tributary  towns  be  in- 
cluded as  a  part  of  Greater  Pittsburg,  the  total  popu- 
lation would  approximate  three-quarters  of  a  million. 

The  foreign  visitor  who  is  accustomed  to  cities  many 
of  whose  industries  and  whose  public  works  date  bagk 
centuries  must  not  forget  that  there  is  in  Pittsburg  very 
little  which  attracts  his  attention,  either  manufacturing 
establishments,  office  buildings,  residences,  parks  or 
boulevards  which  have  not  had  practically  their  whole 
development  within  the  past  10  or  15  years.  As  a  mat- 
ter of  fact,  an  oldtime  resident  of  Pittsburg  who  has 
been  absent  from  the  city  for  15  years  would  find  nearly 
as  much  that  is  new  ti>  liim  as  a  foreigner  wiio  visits 
the  city  for  the  first  lime. 


George  Westinghouse 


[]-:VELOPMENT  of  an  industrial 
connnunity  or  of  a  great  in- 
dustr}-  is  sometimes  the  result 
of  the  concurrent  effort  of  many 
men  whose  individuality  is 
merged  in  a  connnon  result. 
Sometimes,  however,  there  are 
men  whose  power  as  originators 
and  as  leaders  impress  their  in- 
dividuality upon  all  with  which 
they  come  in  contact.  In  the 
industrial  development  of  Pitts- 
burg and  in  the  evolution  of  the 
electrical  industrj^  there  is  a  man  whose  career  has  been 
one  of  leadership  and  who  has  expended  his  best  ener- 
gies in  the  development  of  manufacturing  companies, 
whose  organization  and  methods  may  be  taken  as  ap- 
proximating the  ideal  in  the  new  industrial  life  which 
has  grown  up  within  the  ])ast  tuenty-tive  years.  In  its, 
broadest  sense  the  development  of  modern  industry 
along  right  lines  owes  much  to  the  example  and  the 
life  work  of  George  Westinghouse. 

George  Westinghouse,  of  German  descent  through 
the  genealogy  of  his  father,  was  born  at  Central  Bridge. 
Schoharie  County,  New  York,  October  6,  1846,  the  son 
of  George  and  Emeline  (Vcdder)  Westinghouse.  His 
descent  tlnnugh  his  mother  is  from  Dutch-English  an- 
cestry, and  he  inherited  not  only  the  sturdy  character  of 
the  lldlland  Puritans,  hut  aNi)  their  religious  tendencies 
and  their  capacity  f<ir  hard  wnrk,  and  in  atldition  a 
preference  for  the  fine  arts.  His  father  was  a  manu- 
facturer in  Schenectady  and  it  was  in  his  shops  that 
the  younger  George  acquired  much  of  his  skill  as  a  me- 
chanic. His  early  education  was  limited  to  the  com- 
mon schools  and  he  became  an  inventor  at  the  age  of 
fifteen,  conceiving  sonu'lhing  entirely-   utw   in  the   form 


26  The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Ha/ul-Book 

of  a  rotary  engine,  which  he  constructed  with  his  own 
hands,  even  then  accustomed  to  the  use  of  tools.  Al- 
though only  a  boy  during  the  civil  war,  his  large  stat- 
ure enabled  him  to  gratify  his  desire  to  fight  for  the 
Union,  and  he  has  the  unique  record  of  having  served 
in  the  infantry  and  cavalry  of  the  army,  and,  for  the 
last  year  of  the  war,  as  an  engineer  officer  in  the  navy, 
resigning   when    the   fighting   was   over. 

.■\fter  a  short  stay  at  Union  College  (which  has  hon- 
ored itself,  since  he  became  famous,  by  conferring  a 
degree  on  him),  he  began  active  business  life  in  the 
e.xploitation  of  a  railroad  switch  which  he  had  in- 
vented. This  brought  him  in  touch  with  railroad  prob- 
lems, of  which  the  most  important  was  the  discovery 
of  an  efficient  power  brake.  While  studying  the  prob- 
lem, the  successful  use  of  compressed  air  in  the  con- 
struction of  the  Mont  Cenis  tunnel  was  made  public. 
He  alone  grasped  the  hint.  His  mind  had  already 
formulated  the  mechanism.  Here  was  the  power  — 
compressed  air.  Thus,  in  1868,  he  invented  the  air 
brake,  which  is  undoubtedly  the  greatest  advance  in 
railroading  since  Stephenson's  use  of  forced  draft  in 
the  Rocket.  We  cannot  go  into  the  story  of  the  intro- 
duction of  the  brake  and  of  its  improvement,  but  it  is 
to  be  noted  that  Mr.  Westinghouse  has  always  studied 
to  improve  it  and  his  later  inventions  of  the  "  triple- 
valve  "  and  the  quick  action  brake  are  almost  as  epoch- 
making  as  that  of  the  air  brake  itself.  It  is  not  exag- 
gerating to  say  that  these  inventions  have  made  modern, 
high-speed  railroading  possible  and  safe. 

Mr.  Westinghouse  is  not  only  a  mechanical  genius 
and  inventor,  but  a  skillful  executive  and  financier.  As 
soon  as  he  had  the  brake  well  developed,  he  organ- 
ized a  factory  for  its  manufacture,  which  has  grown  to 
the  great  works  at  Wilmerding,  Pa.,  one  of  the  most 
remarkable  examples  of  highly  specialized  aiid  efficient 
manufacturing  in  the  world.  It  is  worth  noting,  in  this 
connection,  that  in  his  Air  Brake  Works,  as  far  back 
as  the  70's,  'Sir.  Westinghouse  introduced  the  Saturday 


George  It^estinghouse  2^ 

half-holiday  and  54-honr  week,  a  practice  followed  in 
all  his  later  work?. 

Applying  the  experience  gained  in  the  use  of  com- 
pressed air  with  the  brake  to  his  old  work  with  switches, 
led  to  the  pneumatic  switch  and  signal,  now  so  com- 
mon, and  this  line  of  industry  has  developed  into  an- 
other of  his  works,  the  Union  Switch  and  Signal  Com- 
pany. These  automatic  signals  have  enormously  in- 
creased the  capacity  of  the  railroads,  one  prominent  offi- 
cial saying  that  five  times  as  many  trains  could  be 
operated  on  tracks  protected  by  them  as  on  those  un- 
protected. 

With  the  use  of  electricity  to  operate  the  valves  in 
the  pneumatic  system,  he  was  brought  to  study  this 
comparatively  new  agent,  and  out  of  this  has  grown  the 
greatest  of  his  companies,  the  Westinghouse  Electric 
and  Manufacturing  Company.  One  of  the  qualities  for 
which  Mr.  Westinghouse  is  noted  among  those  who 
know  him  best  is  his  remarkable  foresight.  Twenty 
years  ago,  he  seems  to  have  foreseen  the  tremendous 
possibilities  of  electrical  developments  and  even  the 
line  along  which  they  would  proceed.  Nearly  all  other 
workers  in  the  electrical  field  were  developing  direct 
current,  but  he  saw  that  the  transmission  losses  would 
keep  this  form  within  narrow  limits.  Alternating  cur- 
rent would  take  care  of  the  transmission,  but  a  means 
must  be  provided  for  readily  changing  the  high  pressure 
needed  for  transmission  to  the  low  pressure  needed  for 
application.  The  Gaulard  and  Gibbs  transformer  pat- 
ents offered  a  solution  :  these  he  bought,  and  started  the 
Electric  Company.  One  more  thing  was  needed  for 
complete  success,  a  simple  and  reliable  motor.  This 
was  supplied  by  Tesla.  who  was  backed  by  ]\Ir.  West- 
inghouse while  working  it  out. 

The  story  of  the  fight  to  introduce  alternating  current 
which  was  carried  on  by  Mr.  Westinghouse  single- 
handed  against  incredible  opposition,  is  as  fascinating 
as  a  romance,  but  space  limits  forbid  going  into  details. 
We  may  only  mention  the  lighting  of  the  Chicago  Fair 


28  The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Hand- Book 

and  the  great  Niagara  Plant  as  among  his  earliest 
triumphs.  He  has  the  satisfaction  now  of  seeing  his 
ideas  approved  by  the  whole  electrical  industry  and 
what  was  a  feeble  infant  grown  to  a  giant.  The  great 
dynamos  for  the  Elevated  and  Underground  roads  in 
New  York,  and  for  the  Underground  road  in  London 
are  among  his  latest  triumphs,  and  the  recent  perfection 
of  the  alternating-current  single-phase  railway  motor 
has  added  yet  another  victory  to  the  alternating  system. 

Besides  the  work  thus  far  described,  Mr.  Westing- 
house  has  taken  a  foremost  part  in  the  development  of 
the  gas  engine  and  the  steam  turbine,  which  are  built 
by  the  Westinghouse  Machine  Company.  He  was  also 
the  moving  spirit  in  the  exploitation  of  natural  gas 
in  the  Pittsburg  district,  his  special  merit  coming  from 
working  out  its  piping  over  long  distances,  which  was 
at  first   thought   impossible. 

Works  for  the  manufacture  of  the  air  brake  have 
long  been  established  in  England,  France  and  Germany, 
followed  by  Electric  Works  in  France,  and  more  re- 
cently by  the  great  works  of  the  British  Westinghouse 
Electric  and  Manufacturing  Company  at  Manchester, 
England,  which  in  the  first  year  of  operation  employed 
about  5.000  men,  and  the  Canadian  Westinghouse  Com- 
pany at  Hamilton,  Ont.  In  all,  ]\lr.  Westinghouse  is 
President  of  nearly  a  score  of  companies  employing 
about  30,000  people,  and  representing  a  capital  of  nearly 
$100,000,000. 

With  all  this  wonderful  achievement  to  his  credit,  the 
man  himself  is  modest  and  unassuming.  Indeed,  owing 
to  his  great  dislike  of  anything  like  personal  adver- 
tising, and  his  absolute  refusal  until  very  recently  to  let 
his  portrait  be  published,  only  those  who  had  met  him 
personally  knew  his  appearance.  He  is  a  man  of  very 
attractive  personality  and  charm  of  manner,  and  of 
large  and  vigorous  physique.  It  is  obvious  that  only  a 
man  of  tremendous  capacity  for  work  and  of  splendid 
health  could  have  accomplished  all  that  he  has,  and 
even  now  he  works  harder  than  anv  of  his  lieutenants. 


George  West'mghouse  2^ 

On  August  8th,  1867,  George  Westinghouse  was  mar- 
ried in  Brooklyn  to  Margaret  Erskine  Walker,  and  their 
family  life  has  been  almost  ideal.  They  have  one  son, 
George  Westinghouse,  Jr.,  who  is  now  a  student  at 
Yale.  Numerous  business  cares  leave  Mr.  Westing- 
house little  time  for  social  enjoyment,  which  thus  de- 
volves largely  on  Mrs.  Westinghouse,  who,  in  all  of 
her  beautiful  homes,  is  the  ideal  hostess,  gracious  and 
charming,  and  possessed  of  that  rare  tact  which,  with- 
out apparent  effort,  makes  every  guest  feel  thoroughly 
at  home  and  draws  out  his  best  efforts  towards  the  gen- 
eral entertainment,  assured  of  a  sympathetic  audience. 
The  winter  residence  is  the  Blaine  House  on  Dupont 
Circle  in  Washington,  and  the  summer  home  the  beau- 
tiful estate  of  Erskine  Park  at  Lenox,  Massachusetts. 
They  still  retain  their  fine  old  home  in  Pittsburg, 
among  the  first  of  the  large  houses  in  what  is  now  the 
residential    district. 

There  have  been  conferred  on  Mr.  Westinghouse  the 
decorations  of  a  nimilxr  of  foreign  orders,  including 
the  Legion  of  Honor,  the  Royal  Crown  of  Italy,  and 
the  Order  of  Leopold  of  Belgium.  He  is  also  one  of 
the  two  living  honorary  members  of  the  American  As- 
sociation for  the  Advancement  of  Science,  and  an  hon- 
orary memlier  of  the  American  Society  of  Mechanical 
Engineers. 

Among  all  the  noted  citizens  of  Pennsylvania,  it  is 
doubtful  if  there  is  another  who  has  done  so  much  for 
industrial  development  as  George  Westinghouse.  His 
factories  produce  apparatus  which  generate  power  or 
control  its  use  and  thus  become  effective  instruments  in 
(loini:  the  World's  work.  His  epoch-making  in\entions 
liavc  (lone  so  nnicli  to  sa\e  and  protect  life  and  to  make 
it  more  worth  ii\in>.:,  that  they  justly  entitle  his  name  to  a 
hi^h  jjlace  anion^:  the  benefactors  of  the  race. 


PITTSBURG  ELECTRICAL  AND 
ALLIED      INDUSTRIES 


Westinghouse  Industries 


IMOXG  the  leading  manufactur- 
ing enterprises  of  Pittsburg, 
whose  products  have  contrib- 
uted so  largely  to  the  world-wide 
reputation  of  the  city,  the  West- 
inghouse interests  occupy  a 
most  prominent  position.  They 
include  the  Westinghouse  Air 
Brake  Company,  manufacturers 
and  original  inventors  of  that 
brake  which,  nearly  forty  years 
ago,  gave  such  a  wonderful  im- 
petus to  railroad  development 
throughout  the  world,  and  which  is  now  used  in  every 
civilized  coimtry  on  the  globe  where  railroads  are  the 
means  of  transportation  :  the  Westinghouse  Electric  and 
]\Ianufacturing  Company,  makers  of  apparatus  for  the 
generation  and  distribution  of  electric  light  and  power, 
pioneers  in  the  development  of  the  alternating  system, 
patentees  and  owners  of  the  Tesla  system  of  polyphase 
power  transmission  and  manufacturers  of  the  largest 
dynamos  the  world  has  ever  known  :  the  Westinghouse 
Machine  Company,  manufacturers  of  high  grade  steam 
engines,  gas  engines,  steam  turbines  and  mechanical 
stokers ;  the  Union  Switch  and  Signal  Company,  manu- 
facturers of  signal  and  safety  devices  employed  in  the 
operation  of  the  large  railroads  of  this  country  as  safe- 
guards to  life  and  property;  the  Sawyer-Man  Electric 
Company,  makers  of  incandescent  lamps ;  Westing- 
house. Church.  Kerr  &  Company,  engineers  and  con- 
tractors :  the  Pittsburg  Meter  Company ;  the  Nernst 
Lamp  Company;  the  Cooper-Hewitt  P^lectric  Company; 
the  R.  D.  Nuttall  Company;  the  Westinghouse  Trac- 
tion Brake  Company;  the  American  Brake  Company; 
the  Bryant  Electric  Company ;  Canadian  Westinghouse 
ComiJ.'iny.    Limited:    the    British    Westinghouse    Electric 


34 


The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Hand- Book 


Sawyer-Man  Electric  Co.,  New  York  City 

and  Manufacturing  Company ;  the  Westinghouse  Brake 
Company,  Limited,  of  London,  Paris  and  Hanover; 
Societe  Anonyme  Westinghouse  of  France ;  Westing- 
house  Electricitats-Actiengesellschaft  of  Berlin,  Ger- 
many ;  and  Westinghouse  Company,  Limited,  of  Russia. 
The  various  divisions  of  this  group  of  interests 
located  in  the  city  of  Pittsburg  and  its  suburbs,  cover 
an  area  of  several  hundred  acres  and  provide  occupa- 
tion for  some  20,000  employees.  In  construction  and 
equipment,  Westinghouse  workshops  represent  the  most 
modern  development  and  the  latest  improvements  in 
tools,  labor-saving  appliances,  operating  facilities  and 
general   organization. 


Bryant  Electric  Co.,  Bridgeport,  Conn. 


Westinghouse  Industries 


35 


The  welfare  of  employees  while  at  work  has  been 
thoroughly  considered  in  the  construction  of  the  plants ; 
ventilation  and  sanitation  have  been  subjects  of  careful 
study  and  intelligent  effort.  It  is  generally  recognized 
among  authorities  on  construction  that  the  Westing- 
house  works  may  be  justly  regarded  as  models  for  fac- 
tory builders  the  world  oxer. 

The  total  capitalization  of  the  various  Westinghouse 
interests  represents  approximately  the  sum  of  $100,000,- 
000 ;  the  annual  output,  $75,000,000. 

These  great  industries  have  sprung  from  small  lie- 
ginnings ;  their  origin  is  equally  interesting  because 
they  have  all  been  created  and  developed  under  the 
guidance  of  one  master  mind. 

As  a  young  man,  just  past  his  majority,  George 
Westinghouse  laid  the  foundation  for  this  great  in- 
dustrial structure  in  a  small  shop  at  the  corner  of 
Twenty-fifth  Street,  Pittsburg,  where,  with  less  than 
one  hundred  workmen,  he  began  the  manufacture  of  the 
now  world-renowned  Westinghouse  Air  Brake,  the  first 
patent  for  which  had  been  issued  to  him  by  the  United 
States  Patent  Office  on  April  13th,  i86g.  That  same 
j-ear  the  Westinghouse  .\ir  Brake  Company  was  organ- 
ized, and  active  work  of  manufacture  was  begun  soon 
after. 


Canadian  \Vestin(.rli<iuse  Co..  Ltd. 


j6  The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Hand-Book 

The  introduction  of  this  air  brake  marked  an  epoch 
in  the  history  of  railroad  development,  and  made  possi- 
ble the  marvelous  advance  of  the  past  few  decades. 
The  growth  of  the  Air  Brake  Company  has  kept  pace 
with  the  extension  and  expansion  of  the  railway  busi- 
ness, and  today  practically  the  entire  railway  system  of 
the  world  is  equipped  with  the  products  of  the  factory 
near  Pittsburg,  or  its  branches  in  Canada,  England, 
France,   Germany   and   Russia. 

That  the  Westinghouse  Air  Brake  has  never  been 
supplanted  by  a  rival  nor  defeated  by  a  competitor,  but 
has  for  nearly  forty  years  maintained  an  impregnable 
position,  is  a  unique  triumph  for  the  inventive  genius 
which  created  it,  and  a  proof  of  its  inestimable  value 
and   efficiency. 

In  1890  the  works  of  the  Air  Brake  Company  were 
removed  to  Wilmerding.  fourteen  miles  from  Pittsburg. 
Since  then  additions  have  been  made  from  time  to  time 
as  the  business  demanded,  until  today  the  company  em- 
ploys about  3.000  mechanics  and  laborers. 

The  Westinghouse  Machine  Company  was  organized 
in  1 881  for  the  purpose  of  manufacturing  the  high 
speed  steam  engine  designed  by  Mr.  H.  H.  Westing- 
house. It  began  operations  in  the  same  shop  in  which 
the  Air  Brake  Company  had  started,  the  latter  having 
moved  to  a  new  factory  on  Robinson  Street.  Allegheny. 

The  engine  business  made  rapid  strides  and  the  de- 
mand for  this  factory's  product  came  from  all  parts  of 
the  world.  In  1894  the  development  ot  gas  engines  of 
larger  capacity  was  commenced,  as  it  was  recognized 
that  the  operation  of  electric  generators  offered  a  great 
field  for  such  machines.  A  gas  engine  department  was 
established :  and  almost  immediately  met  with  such 
success  that  the  old  factory  became  inadequate  and  the 
new  works  in  East   Pittsburg  were  constructed. 

About  this  time  the  company  took  up  the  manufacture 
of  heavy  duty  Corliss  engines.  Its  progress  in  this 
field  may  be  judged  from  the  sizes  of  the  engines  manu- 
factured, some  of  which  range  up  to  6.500  I  HP. 


38 


The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Ha/ni-Book 


In  1896  Mr.  Wcstinghouse  made  arrangements  with 
Mr.  Parsons  of  England,  the  inventor  of  the  steam 
turbine  which  bears  his  name,  by  which  tlie  Machine 
Company  acquired  the  right  to  manufacture  these  tur- 
bines for  the  United  States.  Tlie  work  of  further  de- 
velopment was  begun  at  fince  with  the  result  that  the 
Westinghouse-Parsons  turbines  to  the  extent  of  hun- 
dreds of  thousands  of  horse  power  are  now  in  oper- 
ation. At  the  present  time  the  factory  of  this  company 
in   East   Pittsburg   has  about  2.500  operatives. 

The  Union  Switch  and  Signal  Company  was  organ- 
ized in  1883  for  the  manufacture  of  the  electric  pneu- 
matic signaling  devices  invented  by  Mr.  Westinghouse. 
Operations  were  begun  in  a  modest  way  in  a  small 
machine  shop  on  Garrison  Alley,  Pittsburg;  but  soon 
extension  had  to  be  made  owing  to  the  rapid  growth 
of  the  business,  and  in  1886  the  company  moved  to 
Swissvale,  the  site  of  its  present  works,  which  were 
erected  in  igoi.  About  i.ooo  operatives  are  now  em- 
ploj'ed.  The  prospects  of  this  company  are  exceedingly 
bright,  as  the  great  railroads  have  only  recently  be- 
come thoroughly  alive  to  the  fact  that  the  employment 
of  safety  devices  results  in  a  saving  of  equipment  as 
well  as  the  preservation  of  life. 


Four  of  the  Cranes  in  Section  B,  We.stingfhou.se 
Electric  &  Mfg.  Co. 


U^estinghouse  Industries  3p 

The  origin,  growth  and  development  of  Westing- 
house  Electric  and  Manufacturing  Company  furnishes 
one  of  the  most  phenomenal  examples  of  American  in- 
dustrial enterprise.  Although  it  is  less  than  twenty 
years  since  the  company  was  organized,  its  present 
works  in  East  Pittsburg  are  in  size,  construction,  equip- 
ment, operating  facilities,  and  productive  capacity, 
among  the  most  noted  in  the  land.  Its  product  is 
known  the  world  over  and  recognized  as  standard  in 
the  field  of  electric  lighting,  railway  and  power  trans- 
mission   and    distribution. 

In  1884.  Mr.  Westinghouse.  then  in  Europe  in  the 
interests  of  the  air  brake,  had  his  attention  called  to 
the  alternating  system  of  electrical  distribution,  the 
patents  for  which  were  owned  and  controlled  by 
Messrs.  Gaulard  and  Gibbs.  With  characteristic  fore- 
sight he  acquired  these  patents,  and  on  his  return  to 
America,  began  the  design  and  construction  of  alter- 
nating current  machinery.  The  Electric  Company  was 
organized  in  1886.  and  in  October  of  that  year,  the  first 
alternator  was  installed  in  GreensburJ,^  Pa.,  and  electric 
lighting  by  the  alternating  system  became  an  accom- 
plished fact.  It  was  not  long  before  the  older  com- 
panies, who  exploited  the  direct  current  system,  began 
to  feel  the  competition  of  the  younger  rival,  and  then 
began  a  warfare  which  has  probably  never  been  equalled 
in  the  history  of  industrial  competition.  Every  con- 
ceivable obstacle  was  put  in  the  way  of  the  new  com- 
]ianv  but  all  in  \ain,  and  the  alternating  current  won 
it-  way  to  it-  present  proud  position,  the  foremost  sys- 
tem  in   electrical   industry. 

In  1888  Nikola  Tesla,  w!io  had  recentU  discox  ered 
the  principle  of  the  rotary  magnetic  field,  became  asso- 
ciated with  the  company,  and  thereby  secured  the  means 
and  facilities  for  further  experiment. 

Following  the  development  of  the  i)olyphase  motor, 
the  polyphase  system  of  electrical  transmission  iias 
>ecured  a  notable  triumph  in  that  it  is  employed  in  all 
long   distance   plants    for   power   transmission,   in   many 


40  2" he  Pittsburg  Electrical  Hana-Book 

railway  systems  which  ultimately  supply  direct  current 
and  in  central  electric  light  and  power  stations  to  such 
an  extent  that  the  output  of  polyphase  alternators  in 
these  stations  is  mi)re  than  double  that  of  direct  cur- 
rent constant  potential   dynamos. 

In  the  application  of  electricity  to  street  railway 
•service  the  Westinghouse  Company  has  taken  a  con- 
spicuous part,  culminating  in  the  recent  production  of 
a  practical  and  successful  alternating  current,  single- 
phase   railway  motor. 

The  little  machine  shop  of  1886  soon  became  too 
small  and  extensions  and  additions  followed  each  other 
in  rapid  succession.  The  buildings  in  Allegheny 
abandoned  liy  the  Air  Brake  Company  were  trans- 
formed into  a  department  of  the  Electric  Company. 
But  more  room  was  needed  and  in  1894  the  first  por- 
tion of  the  present  works  in  East  Pittsburg  was 
erected.  At  that  time  the  company's  pay  roll  con- 
tained nearly  four  thousand  names.  But  its  growth 
had  not  reached  its  limit :  in  fact  at  East  Pittsburg  the 
real  development  of  the  company  had  but  begun. 
From  j'ear  to  year  the  business  grew  and  additional 
buildings  w^ere  constructed :  a  factory  in  Newark,  N.  J., 
was  added  for  the  manufacture  of  detail  apparatus,  and 
more  recently,  extensive  works  have  been  erected  at 
Havre,  France ;  Manchester,  England,  and  Hamilton, 
Canada,  and  the  companies  of  Russia  and  Germany 
were   organized   and   developed. 

Thus  from  a  small  beginning  in  the  little  shop  on 
Twenty-fifth  Street.  Pittsburg,  in  1869,  has  grown  a 
great  family  of  industries  united  in  a  common  parent- 
age and  guided  by  one  master  spirit.  The  various 
Westinghouse  organizations  number  over  30,000  work- 
ers, the  productions  of  w'hose  hands  and  brains  can  be 
found  in  every  countrj-  of  the  world.  Wherever  human 
enterprise  and  activity  have  utilized  the  energy  of  com- 
pressed air,  steam  and  electricity,  there  can  be  found 
the  products  of  the   Westinghouse   Industries. 


Westinghouse  Electric  cif  Mfg.  Co. 


|APID  growth  of  large  enterprises 
and  institutions  is  characteristic 
of  things  American.  That  rapid 
development  is  not  inconsistent 
with  solidity  and  strength  is 
clearly  illustrated  in  the  history 
and  by  the  present  standing  of 
the  Westinghouse  Electric  and 
.Manufacturing  Company,  the 
largest  of  that  group  of  West- 
inghouse industries  whose  posi- 
tion in  the  manufacturing  and 
engineering  world  is  so  com- 
manding and  secure. 

Organized  in  1886  and  starting  business  with  a  force 
of  but  200  employees,  in  a  factory  providing  a  working 
floor  space  of  less  than  50.000  square  feet,  this  company, 
under  wise  and  skillful  leadership,  has  gone  steadily 
forward,  its  progress  marked  by  great  commercial 
courage,  farsighted  appreciation  of  industrial  require- 
ments, the  highest  degree  of  technical  skill,  and  engi- 
neering achievements  which  command  the  respect  and 
admiration  of  the  w-orld.  In  the  short  space  of  eighteen 
years  Westinghouse  ideas  have  permeated  every  branch 
of  electrical  development,  Westinghouse  products  have 
been  applied  to  nearly  every  mechanical  industry  and 
the  name  of  the  great  leader  has  become  familiarly 
known   in  every  quarter  of  the  globe. 

.\t  the  present  time  the  main  works  of  this  company, 
which  are  located  at  East  Pittsburg,  twelve  miles 
east  of  Pittsburg,  in  the  Turtle  Creek  Valley,  cover 
forty-seven  acres  of  ground,  provide  an  available  floor 
space  of  over  2.000.000  square  feet  and  give  employ- 
ment to  nearly  9.000  operatives,  a  large  proportion  of 
whom  are  skilled  mechanics  or  trained  engineers. 
Branch  works  in   .Mlegheny,   Pa. :  Cleveland.  Ohio,  and 


42 


The  Pittsburg  Electricul  Hand-Bcjk 


Newark,  X.  J.,  swell  the  total  number  of  employees  to 
approximately  12.000.  This  estimate  does  not  include 
the  closely  related  industries  whoi^e  operations  are  di- 
rectly controlled  hy  the  Electric  and  Manufacturing 
Company ;  such  companies  as  R.  D.  Nuttall  Company 
of  Pittsburtj.  Pa.;  the  Sawyer-Man  Electric  Company 
of  New  ^'<lrk  City;  the  Bryant  Electric  Company 
and  the  I'erkin-  Electric  Switch  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany  of    Bridgeport.    Conn. 

Tht    Works 

The  East  Pittsburg  Works  are,  in  construction, 
equipment  and  operation,  models  of  American  manu- 
facturing enterprise.  They  were  designed  to  secure  the 
highest  productive  efficiency  and  provide  for  a  natural 
increase  and  development.  So  wisely  were  the  plans 
conceived  that  the  abnormal  growth  and  expansion  of 
the  past  eight  years  has  not  resulted  in  confusion  or 
radical  change,  but   each   addition  has  been   made  along 


Armature  Winding  Department.  Section  B 


*"T' 


-       i: '       V 


z~    'f.  . 

9-    'S.      ~ 


1%     >      > 


h^ 


\- 


'f 


.A... 


[»^83  Fl  •"!  , 


Storage  Casting  Warehouse 


44 


The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Hand- Book 


prearranged  lines  and  lias  fitted  in  the  general  scheme 
originally  outlined.  In  the  plan  of  the  buildings,  ar- 
rangement of  departments  and  systematic  conduct  of 
the  work,  there  is  present  a  unity  of  purpose  coupled 
with  a  loyal  co-operation  which  is  bound  to  bring  the 
best  results.  The  spirit  of  the  leader  imbues  the  entire 
organization  and  its  inspiration  is  felt  by  every  em- 
ployee from  manager  to  apprentice.  A  centralized  re- 
sponsibility directs  and  controls,  competent  assistants 
execute,  and  trained  and  skillful  artisans  perform  the 
varied  operations  of  manufacture.  Implicit  obedience 
to  authority  is  demanded  and  cheerfully  given,  but 
each  operative  is  granted  a  freedom  of  action  and 
method  commensurate  with  his  ability  and  responsibil- 
ity. There  is  no  suppression  of  the  individual  but  each 
working  unit  is  developed  and  encouraged  to  the  utmost 
endeavor.  All  are  working  to  a  definite  end  in  an 
harmonious    and    honorable    relation. 

A  general  view  of  the  works  is  shown  as  the  frontis- 
piece.    The    main    machine    shop,    which    measures,    ap- 


Largre  Punch  driven  by  a  Type  C  Induction  Motor 


Westinghouse  Electric  ijj   Mfg.   Co. 


45 


proximately,  1.200  feet  in  length  by  300  feet  in  width, 
is  divided  into  four  parallel  aisles  or  bays,  each  form- 
ing a  distinct  section  or  department  designated  by  let- 
ters :  —  section  A,  section  B,  etc.  Eacli  section  is  organ- 
ized and  equipped  for  the  production  of  work  of  a  par- 
ticular character.  Section  A,  located  on  the  extreme 
left  as  one  enters  the  building,  is  devoted  to  the  manu- 
facture of  street  railway  motors,  both  alternating  and 
direct  current :  section  C  to  the  production  of  alter- 
nating and  direct  current  generators  and  motors  of 
capacity  less  than  100  K\V,  and  in  sections  B  and  D 
larger  machines  are  constructed,  the  latter  section 
esoecially  being  equipped  with  tools  of  gigantic  size 
capable  of  handling  heavy  material  of  large  dimensions. 
Each  bay  is  equipped  with  overhead  electric  cranes 
which  traverse  the  entire  length  of  the  building.  The 
cranes  vary  in  capacity  from  ten  to  fifty  tons. 

Ill  all  departments  production  is  carried  on  with  a 
minimum  handling  and  transportation  of  material.  The 
arrangement    is    systematic    and    progressive.     The    raw 


Insulatins:  a  Single  Coil  tor  an  Air  Ulast  Transformer 


Weighing:  a  Large  Casting 


H'^cstinghoiiH'  Eire  trie  o    Mfg.   Co.  4J 

material  or  rough  casting  enters  a  department  at  one 
end  and  passing  through  successive  stages  of  manufac- 
ture is  carried  steadily  forward  to  final  assembly  and 
test.  The  completed  machine  is  prepared  for  shipment 
in  the  department  in  which  it  is  constructed,  the  large 
apparatus  being  there  mnuntcd  upon  the  railway  cars. 
For  this  purpose  tracks  of  standard  gauge  enter  every 
aisle  and  a  number  traverse  the  entire  building. 

Riiikciis  Motor  Dcpartmnit 

A  more  detailed  consideration  of  one  section  will  il- 
lustrate the  systematic  progress  of  the  work  to  which 
reference  has  just  been  made.  To  section  A.  in  which 
railway  motors  are  constructed,  are  delivered  the  rough 
castings  for  the  frames,  armature  spiders  and  gear 
cases ;  rough  forgings  for  the  axles ;  sheet  iron  punch- 
ings  for  the  laminated  cores :  finished  commutators : 
finished  brush  holders ;  and  completed  armature  and 
field  coils.  The  rough  forgings,  castings  for  the  spiders 
and  iron  punchings  are  received  at  the  south  end  of  the 
section  :  the  shafts  and  spiders  machined ;  the  laminated 
cores  are  built  up  upon  shaft  or  spider,  according  to 
the  size  and  design  of  the  armature ;  the  slots  are  made 
true,  and  the  fini-hed  cores  are  delivered  to  the  wind- 
ing department  where  the  coils  are  put  in  place.  The 
commutator  is  next  mounted,  the  coils  connected  and 
the  armature  completed.  As  the  work  progresses  step 
by  step  it  gradually  advances  up  the  aisle  toward  the 
assembling  and  testing  department  in  the  center  of  the 
section.  At  every  stage  of  its  progress  it  is  subjected 
to  the  close  inspection  nf  experts  trained  fur  this  par- 
ticular duty  and  each  and  every  part  tested  during  con- 
struction and  when   complete. 

Simultaneously  with  the  processes  just  described  the 
rough  castings  for  the  frame?  and  gear  cases  are  re- 
ceived at  the  northern  end  of  the  section  and.  passing 
through  the  milling,  boring  and  drilling  machines,  are 
gradually  worked   down  the  aisle  to  meet  the  completed 


48 


The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Ha /id- Book 


W  inaiii},'  .>ireft   k;iii\vay   Mdtor  .Vrniatures,  Section  A 

armatures  in  the  assembling  department,  where  field 
coils,  brush  holders  and  bearings  are  mounted  in  place, 
the  armature  inserted  and  the  completed  motor  turned 
over  to  the  testing  experts  and  thorough]}-  tried  out  for 
temperature  rise,  insulation  strength,  speed  regulation 
and  general  operating  characteristics.  As  with  the  ar- 
mature, so  with  the  field,  each  stage  of  manufacture  is 
carried  on  under  the  eye  of  trained  inspectors  and  each 
part  subjected  to  repeated  tests  during  construction. 

After  test  the  completed  motor  is  painted  and  pre- 
pared for  shipment  and  transferred  across  the  shops 
over  the  tracks  of  an  industrial  railway  operated  by 
small  electric  locomotives,  and  delivered  to  the  ware- 
house just  east  of  Section  D. 

Other  Sections 


Storerooms  are  provided  in  each  department  for  the 
material  in  immediate  demand,  supplied  from  the  gen- 
eral storehouse  to  which  all  material  is  delivered  and  in 
which  it  is  held  till  drawn  out  to  fill  a  particular  shop 
or  manufacturing  order.  Many  of  the  tools  in  this,  as 
in  all  departments  of  the  works,  are  specially  designed 


U^estiiighouse  Electric  ■:jj'  Mfg.   Co. 


49 


for  particular  operations.  Multiple  spindle  drills  cut  all 
parallel  holes  in  the  casting  in  one  operation.  Motor 
fields  and  bearings  are  bored  out  together  thus  insur- 
ing absolute  alignment.  Some  machines  bore  two 
motors  at  the  same  time.  Several  castings  are  mounted 
together  on  one  machine  and  milled  ofif  or  planed  true 
simultaneously.  Everything  possible  is  provided  to  re- 
duce labor,  minimize  handling  and  insure  accuracy  and 
the  e.xact  duplication  of  parts.  In  all  this  work  elec- 
tric cranes  play  an  important  part.  They  traverse  the 
entire   section   and   expedite   nearly  every   process. 

In  section  C.  which  is  devoted  to  the  production  of 
smaller  machines  other  than  railway  motors,  the  various 
manufacturing  processes  are  much  the  same  as  those 
just  described,  but  in  sections  B  and  D  where  large  ap- 
paratus is  constructed  there  is,  of  necessity,  more  vari- 
ety and  less  duplication  of  operations.  The  same  sys- 
tematic progession  of  the  work  is  maintained  here, 
though    the    testing    departments    are    located    near    one 


■-cction   1) 


50 


The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Hand- Book 


end  of  the  aisles.  As  the  large  machines  are  not  de- 
livered to  the  warehouse  but  are  loaded  on  the  rail- 
way cars  within  the  section,  it  is  here  literally  true  that 
the  raw  material  enters  one  end  of  the  building  and  the 
finished  product  is  shipped  out  at  the  other.  The 
thirty-ton  traveling  cranes  in  section  B  and  the  fifty- 
ton  cranes  in  section  D  make  the  handling  of  heavy 
material  a  matter  of  simple  routine. 

In  section  D  ha\e  been  constructed  the  largest  gener- 
ators in  the  world,  the  dynamos  now  operating  the  ele- 
vated and  underground  railw'ay  systems  in  New^  York 
City.     During  their  manufacture  a  method  of  procedure 


Turning  Down  Field  Spider  for  5000  K\V  Generator 


new  to  machine  shop  practice  was  devised  and  the  tran- 
sit introduced  as  a  means  of  setting  work  and  tool  in 
true  alignment.  The  piece  to  be  machined  was  mounted 
and  set  true  on  the  surface  bed  plate.  A  center  column 
was  next  located  in  exact  relation  to  the  work  by  the 
use  of  a  centering  gauge  and  secured  to  the  floor  plate 
where  it  remained  throughout  all  the  operations  on  a 
particular  piece  of  work.  On  this  center  column  the 
dividing  instrument,  which  is  of  somewhat  special  con- 


Westiiigh'juse  Electric  i?"  Mfg.   Co.  j/ 

struction,  was  mounted  and  the  correct  position  of  the 
zero  divison  of  the  dividing  circle  determined  by  means 
of  the  telescope.  Straight  edges  were  then  secured  in 
such  positions  that  their  front  edges  were  in  exact 
alignment  with  what  were  to  be  the  finished  surfaces, 
their  precise  location  being  found  by  use  of  the  di- 
viding instrument.  By  means  of  these  straight  edges 
and  the  dividing  instrument  the  portable  tools  neces- 
sary for  the  various  operations  of  slotting,  planing, 
drilling,  etc.,  were  mounted  in  e.xact  position  on  the 
floor  plate. 

The  accuracy  of  the  method  is  illustrated  by  the  fact 
that  the  variation  in  the  alignment  of  the  vertical  joints 
of  the  eight  generators  constructed  for  the  Manhattan 
Elevated  Railway  did  not  exceed  three  hundredths  of 
an  inch.  The  frames  of  these  machines  measure  over 
forty-two  feet  in  height  and  consist  of  six  parts.  A 
complete  generator,  without  shaft,  weighs  over  one  mil- 
lion   pounds. 

Many  of  the  tools  in  this  department  are  portable, 
each  driven  by  its  individual  motor  and  connected  to 
the  distribution  system  by  flexible  cable.  In  many 
cases  a  heavy  casting  is  mounted  on  the  floor  and  the 
tool  brought  to  the  work,  reversing  the  usual  procedure 
of  mounting  the  work  on  the  tool.  Frequently  two  or 
more  tools  are  busy  on  a  casting  at  the  same  time, 
cutting  slots,  drilling,  or  whatever  the  work  liiay  be. 

The  5.0C0  K  W  generators  just  mentioned  are  still 
remarkable  for  their  mechanical  size,  but  they  will  soon 
be  surpassed  in  capacity,  for  turbine  type  alternators  of 
double  their  rated  output  are  now  under  construction 
and  will  shortly  be  placed  in  service.  .\s  the  output 
of  the  unit  increases  approximately  as  the  total  output 
of  the  works,  a  record  for  bigness  is  held  but  a  short 
time  by  any  individual  machine. 

The  winding  department  is  located  in  one  of  the  gal- 
leries. Here  are  prepared  the  form  wound  coil?  for 
generators  and  motor  fields  and  armatures  of  all  types, 
together    with    coils    for   transformers,    instruments    and 


j2  The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Hand- Book 

other  apparatus,  large  and  small.  This  section  also  in- 
cludes the  insulating  department  in  which  mica  and 
otlier  material  is  prepared  and  applied  to  the  finished 
coils.  Much  of  the  winding  and  insulating  is  perforniL^d 
by  girls  who  are  found  particularly  deft  and  skillful  in 
work  of  this  character  not  too  heavy  for  their  strength. 

This  department  has  its  own  shop  where  the  forms  or 
molds  are  made,  on  which  the  coils  are  shaped. 

The  remaining  space  in  the  galleries  of  the  main  shop 
is  devoted  to  the  manufacture  of  small  transformers, 
brush  holders,  commutators,  controllers,  automobile 
motors  and  other  detail  apparatus.  Each  department 
has  its  own  testing  room  and  corps  of  inspectors  and 
every  finished  product  is  prepared  for  shipment  in  the 
department  in  which  it  is  constructed. 

The  warehouse  building  adjoins  and  parallels  section 
D  from  which  it  is  separated  by  a  heavy  fire  wall.  The 
warerooms  occupy  two  floors  but  do  not  e.xtend  the  en- 
tire length  of  the  building,  the  southern  e.xtremity  of 
which  forms  tlie  power-house  from  which  current  is  de- 
livered to  the  workshop  just  described.  The  second 
floor  of  the  warehouse  is  now  devoted  to  the  manufac- 
ture of  switchboards,  rheostats,  starting  boxes,  railway 
diverters  and  like  apparatus,  but  these  departments  are 


One  of  the  Drawing:  Offices 


Westinghoiisc  Elcctrit   ii/  Mfg.    Co.  jj 


.S()00  K\V  (Jenerator  in  Course  of  Construction 


soon  to  be  transferred  to  the  new  building  recently 
completed. 

The  several  departments  thus  far  considered  are  all 
under  one  unbroken  expanse  of  roof  in  a  single  building 
measuring,  api)ri>ximately.  1,200  feet  in  length  by  37,3 
feet  in  width  and  containing  a  floor  space  of  800.000 
square   feet. 

Immediately  south  of  the  warehouse  building  and 
across  a  short  intervening  yard,  which  is  traversed  by 
an  overhead  crane,  i>  the  Punch  Shop  in  which  are 
prepared  the  sheet  steel  !aniin?e  so  largely  used  in  the 
construction  of  electrical  apparatus.  The  steel  sheets 
are  here  received,  annealed  and  treated  by  processes 
known  only  to  the  company's  iron  experts  and  punched 
under  heax  >■  i)re^ses  into  the  many  forms  required  for 
the  various  products  of  the  works.  The  building  is  a 
Iwo-story   structure  and   measures   418x76   feet. 

South  of  the  main  machine  shop,  located  in  sepa- 
rate buildings,  are  the  Brass  Foundry,  4:8x76  feet;  the 
Blacksmith    Shop,   .'43x83    feet:   the   Oil    llon-e.  89  x  _'i 


54 


The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Ha /id- Book 


feet,  and  the  Sheet  Steel  Storage  Building,  368  x  41 
feet.  Across  the  rear  of  these  buildings  and  overlap- 
ping the  new  East  Shop  there  extends  a  large  crane 
shed  used  as  a  receiving  and  storage  department  for 
castings  and  other  heavy  material.  This  building 
measures   603x213   feet. 

The  Carpenter  Shop,  an  irregular  building  with  a 
floor  space  of  39,360  square  feet,  is  located  behind  and 
to  the  left  of  the  crane  shed. 

The  Standard  House  and  Record  X'ault  are  across 
the  street  west  of  the  main  building. 

The  East  Shop 

Tile  new  East  Shop  is  completed  and  is  now  heiny: 
equipped.  It  will  relieve  the  congestion  in  many  depart- 
ments of  the  older  wurks  and  increase  tlie  producti\e 
capacitv  nf  the  company  over  fifty  per  cent. 

The  neW'  shop  is  entirely  under  one  roof  and  is  said 
to  be  the  largest  single  building  in  the  world  wholly 
devoted  to  manufacturing  purposes.  Its  total  length 
is    1,658   feet,    nearly   one-third    of   a    mile.     In    general 


A  Working  Corner  in  the   Standard  House 


Weitiiigkousc  Electric  c3'  Mfg.   Co.  ^j 

tiirm  it  is  -iniilar  to  tlic  older  shops,  and  consists  of  a 
high  central  hay  flanked  on  either  side  by  aisles  which 
have  both  ground  and  gallery  tloors.  The  central  sec- 
tion extends  the  entire  length  of  the  building  and  is 
without  obstruction  other  than  a  drawbridge  which  con- 
nects the  two  gallery  floors  and  which  may  be  raised 
or  opened  to  let  a  crane  pass  with  its  load.  This  draw- 
bridge is  thirty-three  feet  wide  and  seventy  feet  in 
length,  that  being  the  width  of  the  central  bay.  The 
new  building  contains  a  total  floor  space  of  nearly 
700,000  scjuare  feet,  most  of  which  is  directly  available 
for    manufacturing    purposes. 

Seven  bridges  of  various  widths  from  sixteen  to 
sixty-four  feet  connect  the  East  Shop  to  the  older 
buildings.  Five  of  these  bridges  are  on  a  level  with 
the  gallery  floor  and  allow  the  passage  underneath  of 
interworks  and  freight  trains.  The  other  two  are  over 
the    power   houses. 

In  the  arrangement  of  departments  economy  in  manu- 
facture and  a  minimum  transportation  of  material  have 
been  the  two  chief  items  of  consideration.  The  lines  of 
manufacture  for  the  five  new  sections  are,  in  general, 
as   follows  : 


Tlie  Industrial  Railway 


5(5  The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Hand- Book 

Section  P,  running  soutli  from  the  power-house,  as 
indicated  in  the  diagram  on  another  page,  is  utilized 
for  the  development  and  manufacture  of  transformers 
of  all  sizes  and  types,  static  interrupters  and  such  ap- 
paratus. The  transformer  testing  department  occupies 
the  entire  width  of  the  section  for  a  distance  of  192 
feet,  immediately  south  of  the  power-house  wall,  en- 
closed on  all  sides  by  fire  walls  with  arched  ceilings, 
and  is,  therefore,  as  nearly  fireproof  as  possible. 
Within  this  department  a  space  has  been  alloted  for  ex- 
perimental determinations,  including  a  reservation,  en- 
closed within  partition  walls  extending  from  floor  to 
ceiling,  for  tests  on  detail  apparatus  designed  for  high 
tension  service. 

Between  the  east  wall  of  the  boiler  room  and  power- 
house, separating  them  from  section  R,  provision  has 
been  made  for  the  erection  of  twelve  towers  arranged 
for  the  treatment  of  insulating  material  by  a  continuous 
process. 

The  portion  of  section  P  south  of  the  power-house 
will  be  occupied  by  the  tinning,  pole  piece  and  cutting 
off  departments,  the  last  named  being  a  new  division 
in  which  it  is  nropo^ed  to  cut  cold  rolled  steel,  axle  steel 
and  tool  steel  for  all  departments  of  the  works  re- 
quiring material   of  this   character. 

The  high  central  bay  of  the  new  building  will  be 
equipped  for  the  production  of  alternating  and  direct 
current  dynamos  and  motors,  rotary  converters  and 
other  apparatus,  with  the  exception  of  street  railway 
motors,  having  rotor  and  stator  elements,  of  capacity 
100  HP  up  to  and  including  machines  having  a  maxi- 
mum internal  bore  not  exceeding  six  feet.  This  will 
relieve  the  main  aisles  of  the  older  shop  of  the  smaller 
apparatus  and  leave  them  free  for  the  larger  work, 
to  which  their  equipment  is  especially  adapted.  By 
making  a  definite  diameter  of  maximum  bore  of  the 
stationary  part  the  dividing  line  between  departments, 
the  maximum  size  of  the  machine  tool  equipment  of 
the   new   section   was   immediately  determined. 


I.     1,(10(1  K\V  :i(J(l(l  Alternation  Turbo-Generators 

II.     Sinirle  Shipment  of  21  Cars  Loaded  with   Westingfhousc  Product 
III.     Knk'ineerinsr  Apprentices  in  Dynamo  Testing  Department 


5<?  The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Hand- Book 

The  remaining  aisle  on  the  ground  floor  of  the  Kast 
Shop  dififers  from  other  departments  in  the  main  shops 
in  that  br.t  little  of  its  product  will  he  completely  as- 
sembled within  its  limits,  its  chief  function  being  the 
supply  of  parts  to  other  sections.  Its  space  will  be  di- 
vided among  six  newly  organized  departments  known 
by  the  names  of  Frame,  Bracket.  Spider,  Building, 
Shaft  and  Bearing,  the  name  signifying  the  character 
of  the   work   performed   in   each. 

On  the  gallery  floors  in  the  East  Shop,  switchboards, 
instruments,  detail  apparatus  and  small  tools  are  con- 
structed. A  model  department  has  been  established 
devoted  exclusively  to  the  development  of  the  smaller 
types  of  apparatus,  which  have  passed  the  experi- 
mental stage,  and  the  production  of  manufacturing 
models  which  can  Ije  used  to  prepare  special  tools,  fix- 
tures and  gauges  for  the  economical  manufacture  of 
constituent  parts.  Every  section  is  abundantly  equipiied 
with  electric  cranes,  twenty  of  which  have  so  far  been 
installed  in  the  new  building. 

Transportation  of  Material 

In  so  large  an  establishment  the  transportation  of 
material  presents  problems  of  great  difficulty.  The 
facilities  provided  for  this  purpose  in  the  Westing- 
house  Works  are  abundant  and  complete.  In  addition 
to  the  overhead  cranes  and  standard  gauge  tracks,  to 
which  references  have  been  made,  a  complete  industrial 
railway  system  traverses  the  entire  works,  connecting 
the  several  sections  and  departments.  The  industrial 
trains  are  drawn  by  small  electric  storage  battery  loco- 
motives and  are  run  on  regular  schedules  which  are 
carefully  maintained. 

The  principal  route  of  material  transportation  be- 
tween the  old  and  new  buildings  is  a  tunnel  c:^nnecting 
sections  C  and  S  and  equipped  with  double  industrial 
railway  track  and  elevators  at  the  terminals. 

Current   for  various  testing  purposes,   lighting  of  the 


M^esti/ighousf  Electric  15  Mfg.   Co.  jip 

buildings  and  operation  of  the  tools,  cranes,  elevators. 
etc..  throughout  the  works,  which  are  all  motor  driven, 
is  supplied  from  two  power-houses,  one  located  in  the 
southern  end  of  the  warehouse  building  and  the  other 
along  side  the  first  but  within  the  walls  of  the  new 
East  Shop.  The  equipment  includes  thirty  250  HP 
Babcock  &  Wilcox  water  tube  boilers,  six  500  HP 
Westinghouse  Compound  engines  coupled  to  375  KW, 
two-phase,  220-volt  generators,  two  similar  engines 
coupled  to  375  KW  500-volt  direct-current  generators, 
one  600  HP  Westinghouse  vertical  gas  engine  coupled 
to  a  400  KW.  soo-volt  direct-current  generator  and 
two  Westing^house-Parsons  steam  turbines  direct  con- 
nected to  1. 000  KW,  two-phase,  220-volt  alternators  of 
the  turbine  type,  together  with  rotary  converters,  trans- 
formers, steam  and  motor  driven  exciters,  switch- 
boards, feed  water  heaters,  automatic  stokers,  coal  and 
ash  handling  mechanism  and  other  apparatus  necessary 
to  a  complete  and  modern  electric  generating  station. 
Coal,  unloaded  from  the  cars,  passes  through  crushers 
to  conveyers  which  carry  it  to  the  storage  bins  from 
which  it  is  supplied  to  hoppers  in  the  boiler  rooms  and 
fed  to  Roney  mechanical  stokers  under  the  boilers. 
The  conveyers  are  so  arranged  that  coal  may  be  de- 
livered to  the  hoppers  direct  from  the  crushers  without 
going  to  the   storage   bins. 

PozL-er  afui  Equipment 

The  Westinghouse  Company  has  been  for  many 
years  a  consistent  advocate  of  the  motor  driving  of 
machine  tools  and  other  apparatu-^  in  a  manufacturing 
plant.  Data  in  this  connection  gained  from  outside 
sources  and  the  equipment  of  other  factories  have  been 
fortified  by  the  company's  own  experience  as  a  manu- 
facturer. The  entire  works  are  motor  driven  on  the 
two-phase  3,000  alternation  system,  excepting  the 
cranes  in  the  earlier  buildings  which  are  equipped  with 
direct   current    motors.     Not    including   cranes   there   are 


6o  The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Hand- Book 

now  in  service  tliroughout  the  shops  nearly  250  motors 
with  an  aggregate  rated  capacity  of  over  5.500  HP. 

The  cranes  in  the  later  buildings  are  operated  by 
alternating  current  motors  of  the  induction  type.  The 
works  contain  in  all  some  si.xty  odd  overhead  traveling 
cranes  ranging  in  capacity  from  three  to  fifty  tons. 
Many  of  the  larger  cranes  are  equipped  with  auxiliary 
hoists   for  lighter  service. 

The  whole  mechanical  equipment  is  of  the  very  best 
and  is  complete  in  every  detail.  Rapid  duplication  is 
made  possible  by  the  use  of  jigs  and  other  mechanical 
aids  to  quick  and  accurate  workmanship. 

The  buildings  are  well  lighted,  heated  and  ventilated 
throughout.  Daylight  is  admitted  through  windows, 
which  occupy  seventy  per  cent  of  the  total  outside  wall 
area,  and  through  skylights  in  the  rof)f.  Numerous 
arc  and  incandescent  lamps  furnish  light  during  the 
dark  hours.  Some  of  the  sections  are  illuminated  by 
the  new-  Bremer  arc  lamps  and  Nernst  lamps  are  quite 
generally  used  in  the  offices  while  one  of  the  draughting 
rooms  is  lighted  with  Cooper-Hewitt  mercury  vapor 
lamps,  found  particularly  desirable  in   such  a  service. 

Heat  and  ventilation  are  supplied  by  an  indirect  system. 
Fresh  air  propelled  by  motor  driven  fans  is  distributed 
through  the  buildings  by  means  of  pipes  of  large 
diameter  w'ith  outlets  every  few  feet.  In  cool  weather 
this  air  is  heated  by  passage  over  coils  supplied  with 
steam  from  the  engine  exhaust,  or,  if  necessary,  direct 
from  the  boilers  in  the  power-house.  The  shops  are 
at  all  times  maintained  comfortable  whether  the  outside 
temperature   be   high    or    low. 

Scattered  through  the  buildings,  for  the  most  part 
on  mezzanine  floors  underneath  the  galleries,  coat  and 
toilet  rooms  are  provided  in  which  each  operative  has 
a  locker.  The  toilet  rooms  are  models  of  convenience 
and  good  sanitation,  and  are  kept  scrupulously  clean. 
Every  possible  provision  is  made  for  the  health,  wel- 
fare and  comfort  of  the  employees.  Clean  towels  and 
soap   are  provided   in   abundance.     Drinking   water   sup- 


JJ'estingbousf  Electric  iif  Mfg.   Co 


6i 


Railway  Motors  Ready    for  Shipment 

plied  from  artesian  wells  is  piped  through  all  the  build- 
ings with  running  fountains  located  at  convenient  points 
but  a  few  feet  apart,  so  that  every  worker  finds  an 
abundant  sujjply  of  clear,  cool  water  always  at  hand. 


Offic 


The  six-story  building  which  stands  immediately  in 
front  of  the  main  machine  shop  provides  a  floor  space 
of  over  90,000  scjuare  feet  for  office  purposes  and  when 
constructed  was  sufficient  for  the  accommodation  of 
the  executive,  sales,  treasury,  legal,  engineering  and 
operating  departments  with  their  corps  of  assistants, 
draughtsmen  and  clerks.  The  great  increase  in  busi- 
ness has,  however,  necessitated  additional  facilities 
which  have  been  provided  in  the  new  building,  the 
entire  front  of  the  East  Shop  being  set  apart  and 
furnished  for  office  purposes. 

S^'stcws  of  Cornniiiuicntion 


Communication    between    tlu'    various   otticcs    and    de- 
partments  is   facilitated   by  i)ri\ate  telephone  and  pneu- 


62 


The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Hand- Book 


matic  mailing  systems  supplemented  by  a  messenger 
service.  The  telephone  equipment  is  very  complete, 
with  a  central  of  its  own  and  switchboard  arranged 
for  600  numbers,  two-thirds  of  which  are  in  daily  use. 
The  long  distance  telephone  switchboard,  located  in  the 
same  office,  is  provided  with  seventy-five  drops,  sixty 
of  which  are  in  service.  The  local  telephone  circuits 
are  operated  on  the  Stromberg-Carlson  Central  Energy 
System. 

The  pneumatic  mailing  system  supplies  thirteen  sta- 
tions located  at  convenient  distributing  points.  Each 
station  is  connected  to  the  Pneumatic  Central,  an  illus- 
tration of  which  is  shown  on  this  page,  by  a  2'1.  inch 
tube.  The  longest  line  measures  1,550  feet  and  is  said 
to  be  the  longest  pneumatic  service  of  the  kind  ever  at- 
tempted in  this  country.  Letters,  sketches,  small  drawings 
and  prints  are  easily  transmitted  through  these  tubes. 
More  bulky  mail  is  delivered  by  messenger. 

The  company  also  maintains  a  private  telegraph  line 
between  East  Pittsburg  and  its  offices  in  New  York. 

Products 

The  output  of  the  Westinghouse  works  includes  prac- 
tically   every    form    of   electrical    apparatus    required    in 


Pneumatic  Tube  Central 


Westinghouse  Etectric  Is)   Mfg.   Co. 


63 


4,(11  (iiiUpbfcjjja 


>M 


11 


i^ 


Main  Office  Building,  Westinghouse  Klectric  &  Mfg.  Co. 

lighting,  railway  and  power  service.  The  many  styles, 
types  and  sizes  run  up  well  intu  the  thousands.  Few 
manufactories  turn  out  so  varied  a  product.  The  enor- 
mous proportion  of  the  work  is  indicated  hy  the  aver- 
age daily  production  of  generators  and  motors  alone 
which  reaches  an  aggregate  capacity  of  over  5,000  KW. 
Such  results  necessitate  a  large  and  thoroughly  equipped 
[)lant  and  a  thorough,  united  and  resourceful  organ- 
i/atinii;  nil  ire  especially  as  tiie  niaiuifacturcd  product  is 
not  only  greatly  varied  hut  is  also  suhject  to  rapid 
cliange  of  form  and  type.  Standardization  has  been 
carried  far.  but  new  devices,  modified  forms  and  im- 
proved construction  are  still  constantly  introduced  to  a 
ready  market  quick  to  appreciate  advance  and  improve- 


64 


The  Pittsburg  Elcc tried/  Ha/Jil- Book 


Assembly  Hall.  Electric  Club 


ment   and   accustomed    to   find   the    latest   and   the    best 
under   a   Westinghouse   nameplate. 

Among  the  more  recent  notable  achievements  of  this 
company  in  the  line  of  new  and  improved  apparatus 
may  be  mentioned  the  >ingle-phase  railway  motor,  the 
unit  switch  system  of  multiple  control,  the  turbine  type 
generator,  the  static  interrupter,  the  M.  P.  lightning  ar- 
rester, the  tvpe  A  wattmeter,  the  new  arc  lamps,  both 
series  and  multiple,  and  the  series  arc  regulator  for 
alternating  current   circuits. 


Working  For, 


The  rapid  development  of  new  and  the  modification 
of  older  apparatus  adds  greatly  to  the  difficulties  of  the 
manufacturer  and  necessitates  an  organization  of  flex- 
ibility and  power,  including  an  enthusiastic,  loyal  and 
well-trained  working  force.  Without  such  a  force  a 
modern    equipment    is   of   little   avail.     A   good   tool    can 


Westinghouse  Electric  i^  Mfg.   Co.  6§ 

accomplish  little  in  the  hands  of  a  skilless  artisan.  With 
highly  developed  system  and  facilities  there  must  be 
joined  a  highly  developed  force  of  men,  thoroughly  dis- 
ciplined and  skillfully  led. 

In  few  industrial  establishments  can  there  be  found 
so  hearty  a  spirit  of  co-operation  and  so  kindly  a  feeling 
between  fellow  workers  and  so  loyal  a  devotion  to  the 
company  and  its  interests  as  are  characteristic  of  this 
"  Westinghouse  family,"  as  it  is  often  called.  All  are 
parts  of  one  grand  organization  in  which  each  takes 
pride  and  for  which  each  wfirkcr  feels  a  personal  re- 
sponsibility. Fair  and  generous  treatment  is  accorded 
to  all  and  full  credit  granted  for  every  merit  made  evi- 
dent by  work.  Every  facility  is  provided  and  every 
employee  encouraged  to  develope  the  best  there  is  in 
him. 

Wage  System 

In  the  payment  of  employees  the  company  follows  an 
enlightened  policy  by  which  the  operative  profits  by 
putting  forth  his  best  endeavor.  Wherever  possible 
the  Premium  System  is  applied,  based  on  a  fixed  time 
for  the  performance  of  a  given  operation  with  a  sub- 
stantial reward  to  the  workman,  in  addition  to  the  regu- 
lar hourly  wage,  proportionate  to  the  time  saved.  If, 
on  the  other  hand,  the  time  taken  for  a  given  operation 
exceed  the  time  limit  fi.xed.  the  employee  is  paid  for 
his  actual  W( irking  time  at  his  regular  hourly  rate,  so 
he  always  makes  the  full  time  value  of  his  working 
hours  and  may  in  addition  gain  a  premium  by  working 
more  rapidly.  That  the  .system  may  be  effective  and 
carried  on  in  good  faith  a  promise  is  made  that  a  time 
limit  once  fi.xed  will  n<it  be  altered  unless  justified  by  a 
substantial   change  in  the  nuthofl  of  manufacture. 

The  Premium  System,  while  of  advantage  to  the  em- 
])loyees  in  that  it  enables  a  good  workman  to  earn  a 
high  hourly  wage,  is  also  of  advantage  to  the  com- 
pany  a«    it   brings  an   increased   return  jier  unit  of  time 


66  The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Hand-Bo'jk 

and  equipment.  It  is  eminently  fair  to  both  sides  and 
has  been  proved  a  decided  success.  It  brings  out  the 
best  efforts  of  the  operative  who  works  in  confidence 
that  extra  endeavor  will  bring  additional  reward,  it 
urges  him  to  originality  and  improved  methods  and 
fosters  a  commendable  spirit  of  friendly  interest  and 
co-operation. 

In  works  of  so  large  a  size  and  with  so  varied  a 
product  there  are,  of  course,  operations  to  which  the 
Premium  System  cannot  readily  be  applied.  With  such 
other  methods  are  followed.  The  Premium  System, 
however,  governs  the  great  majority  of  operations  in 
the  works  of  this  company.  It  seems  to  be  acceptable 
alike  to  the  management  and  the  men  employed. 

Production  Department 

It  is  not  sufficient  that  an  order  be  entered  and  the 
work  of  manufacture  be  skillfully  performed.  Con- 
tracts usually  require  that  apparatus  be  completed  at  a 
specified  time.  With  the  multitude  of  orders  passing 
through  the  works  systematic  attention  is  required  that 
each  shall  progress  towards  completion  at  the  allotted 
time.  The  quantity  of  work  must  be  kept  up  to  the 
point  necessary  to  meet  the  orders  in  hand.  This  re- 
sponsibility lies  at  the  door  of  the  Production  De- 
partment which  is  composed  of  a  force  of  trained 
clerks  under  a  Superintendent  of  Production,  whose 
duty  it  is  to  keep  track  of  the  progress  made  from  day 
to  day  on  each  order  in  the  works,  to  prevent  delays  and 
conflicts,  and  to  see  that  each  and  every  piece  of  ap- 
paratus sold  is  ready  for  shipment  at  the  time  promised. 

A  portion  of  the  staff  of  this  department  is  stationed 
in  the  shops  to  follow  the  work  on  the  floor.  The  re- 
mainder is  utilized  to  keep  track  of  the  orders,  each 
man  looking  after  apparatus  of  a  certain  kind  or  size 
and  watching  the  various  component  parts,  wherever 
manufactured,  so  that  all  may  come  through  together 
and  the  order  be  completed  at  the  proper  time. 


I.    Reading:  Room,  Electric  Club 
II.     East  Pittsburg  Club  House 


68 


The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Ha?! d- Book 


Emplosment  and  AttCfidance 

That  accurate  record  may  be  kept  of  the  attendance 
of  the  working  force  each  employee  is  given  a  small 
brass  check  marked  with  the  company's  name,  the 
workman's  number  and  the  designation  of  the  section 
to  which  he  is  assigned.  On  entering  the  buildings  in 
the  morning  the  check  is  shown  to  the  watchman  as 
evidence  of  the  right  to  enter.  On  arrival  at  hi-^  de- 
partment the  employee  hangs  the  check  upon  the  check- 
board  which  is  located  near  the  foreman's  desk,  on  the 
hook  corresponding  to  his  check  number.  At  the  close 
of  work  the  checks  are  taken  down  as  the  employees 
pass  out.  They  therefore  serve  to  keep  the  time  and 
also  as  passes  to  and  from  the  works.  The  system  is 
simple  but  very  effective,  accurate  though  almost  auto- 
matic in   its  action. 

The  greatest  care  is  taken  in  the  selection  of  new 
employees.  This  work  is  entrusted  to  a  special  depart- 
ment known  as  the  Employment  Department,  under  the 
direction  of  a  skilled  mechanic,  whose  duty  it  is  to  per- 
sonally interview  and  pass  on  each  applicant  for  posi- 
tion.    The  compan}-  believes  that  it  is  better  to  make  a 


Employees  Leaving  Works 


I.     Private  Dinint:  Km>ni,  ( >ftiLe  Huildina: 
II.     Corner  in  Office 
III.     Dinintr  Hall,  Casino 


70 


The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Hand- Book 


thorough  examination  at  the  start  rather  than  learn  hy 
trial  that  an  applicant  is  not  qualified  to  perform  the 
services  for  which  he  is  employed.  Foremen  of  the 
departments  are  consulted  hut  the  final  selection  of  new 
men  lies  with  the  Employment  Department  and  on  it 
the  responsihility  rests. 

Whenever  a  workman  is  engaged,  an  employee's  cer- 
tificate is  made  out  recording  the  name,  birthplace  and 
age  of  the  applicant,  his  previous  experience,  and  such 
other  information  as  may  be  obtained.  On  this  certifi- 
cate is  also  kept  the  history  of  the  employee  as  long  as 
he  remains  with  the  company,  showing  transfers  from 
one  department  to  another  and  other  data  of  value  as  a 
determination  of  individual  efficiency  and  faithfulness. 
If  for  any  reason  it  becomes  necessary  to  reduce  the 
force  in  anv  one  department  the  employment  bureau  is 
notified  and  efifort  is  made  to  place  the  operative  in 
other  portions  of  the  works. 

Apprentice  S\stem 

As  the  future  strength  of  a  community  is  in  its  young 
men,  so  the  development  of  an  efficient  working  force 
depends  in  a  large  measure  upon  its  apprentice  system. 
This  company  has  had   in   force   since   1896  a   carefully 


One  of  the  Drinking  Fountains 


Westmghouse  Eiectric  cif  Mfg.   Co.  j i 

arranged  system  which  provides  for  two  classes  of  ap- 
prentices, those  without  preliminary  technical  training, 
called  Ordinary  Apprentices,  and  those  who  are 
graduates  of  technical  schools,  called  Engineering  Ap- 
prentices. 

For  the  first  class  a  course  of  four  years  is  provided 
with  pay  ranging  from  five  to  fifteen  cents  per  hour, 
according  to  length  of  service.  During  this  time  the 
apprentice  learns  thoroughly  that  particular  branch  of 
the  work  for  which  he  seems  to  be  best  adapted  and 
becomes  in  the  end  a  skilled  mechanic,  or,  if  of  excep- 
tional ability,  an  inspector  or  foreman. 

The  Engineering  Apprentices,  each  of  whom  has 
already  received  a  technical  degree  from  some  college 
or  university  of  standing,  serve  through  a  two  years' 
course  with  pay  running  from  sixteen  to  eighteen  cents 
per  hour.  They  are  driven  a  wide  range  of  work  en- 
abling them  to  get  an  insight  into  all  branches  and 
methods  of  manufacture,  serve  for  a  time  in  the 
draughting  room  and  on  the  testing  floor  and,  as  far  as 
possible,  are  made  acquainted  with  the  business  methods 
of  the  company.  In  this  way  a  body  of  trained  men 
is  developed  from  which  are  drawn  engineers,  designers, 
constructors,  salesmen  and  men  for  almost  all  positions 


A   Fi'W  Hnj^inc(.'tin(,r  .Xppit-ntices 


J 2  The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Hand- Book 

of  responsibility  at  the  company's  disposal.  At  the 
present  time  there  are  about  200  such  apprentices  in  the 
works.  That  the  training  is  of  value  and  appreciated 
is  evidenced  by  the  number  of  applications  for  entrance 
to  the  course.  The  waiting  list  contains  the  names  of 
many  graduates  of  our  universities  and  colleges  who  are 
anxious  for  the  opportunity  to  enter  practical  engineer- 
ing in  so   favorable  a  way. 

Educational  and  Social  Features 

The  company  believes  that  it  is  good  business  policy 
to  promote  the  educational  and  social  advancement  of 
its  employees  and  has  found  that  effort  in  this  direc- 
tion is  fully  justified  by  results.  Chief  among  the  agen- 
cies established  to  this  end  is  the  Electric  Club,  an 
organization  of  500  members  gathered  from  the  office, 
engineering  and  apprentice  forces  of  all  the  Westing- 
house  Companies  in  the  vicinity.  The  home  of  the 
club  is  adequately  equipped  with  library,  containing  the 
more  important  technical  journals,  class  rooms  and 
assembly  hall  with  seating  capacity  of  nearly  300.  The 
object  of  the  organization  is  both  educational  and 
social.  Lectures  and  discussions,  elementary  and  ad- 
vanced, for  the  consideration  of  electrical  and  general 
engineering  subjects  are  held  nearly  every  evening. 
These  meetings  are  usually  under  the  leadership  of  en- 
gineers from  the  regular  engineering  staff  of  the  com- 
pany. From  time  to  time  non-technical  lectures  are 
also  given  by  prominent  men  within  and  without  the 
company's  organization,  'ilie  local  branch  of  the 
American  Institute  of  Electrical  Engineers  holds  its 
monthly  meetings  in  the  rooms  of  the  club  and  these 
meetings  are  open  to  club  members.  The  cost  of  mem- 
bership is  small.  Every  two  weeks  entertainment  of  a 
social  nature  is  provided  under  the  guidance  of-  a  com- 
mittee of  ladies,  chosen  from  among  the  wives  of  the 
company's  engineers  and  officials.  The  apprentice  sys- 
tem  draws   men    from   all   over   the    world   who   are,   of 


Westinghouse  Electric  ^  Mfg.  Co.  yj 

necessity,  living  away  from  liome.  It  is  the  endeavor, 
in  so  far  as  possible,  to  promote  a  wholesome  enjoy- 
ment of  life  amid  pleasant  and  rehniny-  influences.  The 
attendance  at  these  entertainments  and  the  work  done 
in  the  lecture  room  indicate  a  thorough  appreciation  of 
the  club's  advantages.  It  plays  a  prominent  and  useful 
part  in  the  life  and  training  of  the  growing  engineer. 

The  club  maintains  a  monthly  illustrated  magazine, 
the  Electric  Club  Journal,  for  the  immediate  purpose  of 
putting  into  permanent  form  the  engineering  papers  and 
technical  discussions  which  form  a  regular  part  of  its 
activity.  This  Journal  is  unic|ue  in  that  it  is  prepared 
precisely  and  definitely  for  the  ynung  electrical  engineer, 
by  men  close  to  him  who  appreciate  his  qualifications 
and  his  need,  and  under. the  guidance  of  engineers  of 
experience  and  world-wide  reputation  who  are  in  daily 
touch  with  the  advanced  engineering  practice  of  the 
day.  Though  Init  a  few  months  old  the  Journal  already 
ranks  high  among  technical  magazines. 

For  the  shop  forces  and  those  desiring  more  ele- 
mentary instruction,  a  Casino  has  been  erected  near  the 
works  and  classes  established  under  a  corps  of  six  in- 
structors. The  average  attendance  at  these  classes  is 
now  over  lOO.  The  courses  are  divided  into  two  terms 
of  about  five  months  each,  tw-elve  hours  per  week. 
They  embrace  the  elements  of  mathematics,  English, 
technical  science  and  shop  practice.  'I  he  cost  to  the 
student  is  but  two  dollars  per  month.  The  classes  are 
filled  with  men  anxious  to  learn  and  alive  to  the  prac- 
tical  value  of  technical   instruction. 

The  Casino  building  also  contains  bowling  alleys,  bil- 
liard table-  and  Innrh  ri>(nns,  all  nf  which  are  well 
attended    during    ndnuorking    hours. 

To  the  management  of  the  cnnipany  it  has  not  seemed 
wise  to  enter  directly  into  general  beneficial  or  pension 
organizations,  but  it  has  been  thought  better  that  such 
matters  should  be  handled  by  the  employees  themselves 
through  properly  coiiducted  and  liberally  assisted  asso- 
ciations.    .\mong  such  organizations   may  be  mentioned 


7^  The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Hand- Book 


Inter-Works  Line  connecting  various  Works  at   East  Pittsburg, 
Wilmerding  and  Trafford  City 


the  "  Westinghouse  Electric  and  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany's Beneficial  Association,"  and  the  "  Foremen's  As- 
sociation." The  former  is  open  to  any  employee  of  the 
works  and,  on  the  payment  of  a  small  initiation  fee  and 
a  monthly  due  of  fifty  cents,  guarantees  a  weekly  in- 
demnity of  five  dollars  per  week  for  disability  and  a 
death  benefit  of  two  hundred  dollars,  one-half  of  the 
latter  being  paid  by  the  company.  This  association 
numbers  about   i,ioo  members. 

The  Foremen's  Association  has  between  200  and  300 
members  drawn  from  among  the  foremen,  inspectors 
and  chief  clerks  in  the  various  departments  of  the 
works.     Its  objects  are  both  beneficial   and  social. 

On  the  theory  that  close  acquaintance  leads  to  better 
understanding  and  more  cordial  co-operation,  the  com- 
pany maintains  two  beautifully  furnished  dining  rooms 
on  the  sixth  floor  of  the  Office  Building  where  the 
executive  officers,  managers  and  representatives  of 
each  department  daily  gather  at  the  noon  hour  for  a 
substantial  lunch  and  a  free  interchange  of  ideas  all  the 
more  effective  because  it  is  unofficial.  These  dining- 
rooms   have   done   much    to   promote   the   harmony   and 


Westinghouse  Electric  Ijj   Mfg.   Co. 


/J 


kindly  spirit  of  helpfulness  so  characteristic  of  this 
organization. 

The  East  Pittsburg  Club  is  conducted  by  the  com- 
pany to  provide  suitable  dining  quarters  for  its  large 
engineering  and  commercial  staff.  Comfortable  lunch 
and  rest  rooms  are  also  provided  for  the  women  con- 
nected with  the  various  offices. 

The  foregoing  description  has  attempted  only  to  give 
an  outline  of  a  great  organization,  a  glimpse  at  the  life 
of  a  giant  industry.  Modern  methods,  tireless  activity, 
systematic  effort,  a  happy  and  contented  force,  wise 
and  fearless  leadership,  are  here  found  at  their  best. 
The  works  and  the  organization  but  reflect  the  qualities 
of  the  man  that  made  them,  whose  name  they  bear  — 
"  By   their   fruits  ye   shall   know   them." 


Employees  Waitinsr  for  Home  Train 


An  Epoch  Making  Experiment 


.'-^'^ 


ri 


.-     * 


HE  following  account  of  the 
"  Lawrenceville  Test  "  is  taken 
from  an  article  by  Mr.  Lewis 
Buckley  Stillwell,  Electrical  Di- 
rector, the  Interborough  Rapid 
Transit  Co.  of  New  York,  en- 
titled '■  The  Development  of 
Electric  Power  Transmission," 
appearing  in  Cassier's  Magazine 
for   June. 

■'  In  October,  1886,  in  a  small 
room  on  the  top  floor  of  an  old 
house  in  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  three 
hundred  incandescent  lamps  were  lighted  continuously 
for  a  period  of  about  two  weeks  by  alternating  current, 
transmitted  a  distance  slightly  exceeding  two  miles, 
over  a  single-phase  circuit,  comprising  two  copper  wires 
of  No.  4  B.  &  S.  gauge.  The  potential  used  was  1,000 
volts,  the  frequency  about  130  cycles  per  second,  and 
the  lamps  were  connected  in  parallel  to  the  secondary 
circuits  of  half  a  dozen  transformers.  The  ratio  of 
transformation   was   1,000  to  50. 

"  This  was  the  first  instance,  in  America  at  least,  in 
which  alternating  current  was  used  in  transmitting  elec- 
tric energy  beyond  laboratory  distances  for  the  supply 
of  translating  devices  connected  in  multiple  arc.  The 
alternator  used  to  supply  the  power  was  driven  by  belt 
from  a  line  shaft,  to  which  a  high-speed  automatic  en- 
gine was  connected,  and  this  generating  plant  was 
located  in  a  shop  of  the  Westinghouse  Electric  & 
Manufacturing  Company  on  the  banks  of  the  Allegheny 
river  within  a  mile  of  the  site  of  old  Fort  Duquesne. 

"  It  was  the  writer's  fortune  to  be  detailed  to  watch 
those  lamps  during  twelve  hours  out  of  every  twenty- 
four   during   the   test  —  his   first   practical   experience   in 


An  Epoch   Making  Experiment  ~~ 

applied  electricity  —  and  he  vividly  recalls  the  keen  in- 
terest with  which  everybody  who  had  anything  to  do 
with  the  work  observed  the  results.  In  the  history  of 
American  industrial  progress  the  Law'renceville  test,  as 
it  has  been  called,  was  an  event  of  no  little  importance. 
To  Stanley  and  Shallenberger.  for  the  technical  skill 
and  for  the  patient  work  which  produced  the  apparatus, 
and  to  Geosge  Westinghouse,  whose  far-sighted  enter- 
prise realized  possibilities  at  that  time  scouted  by 
others,  all  those  who  now  are  deriving  benefit  from  the 
wonderfully  extended  use  of  alternating  currents  are 
under  an  obligation  which  they  should  gladly  recognize. 

■'  Prior  to  the  Lawrenceville  test,  distribution  of  elec- 
tric energy  to  lamps  or  motors  had  been  accomplished 
by  continuous-current  systems  operating  at  potentials 
of  1 10  to  220  volts.  The  three-wire  system  in\ented 
by  Edison,  permitting  the  use  of  a  potential  of  220 
volts,  was  coming  into  use  for  general  purposes  in  the 
larger  cities,  and  was  regarded  as  the  highest  potential 
available  for  such  work.  The  general  significance  of 
the  results  of  the  Lawrenceville  test  was  keenly  rea- 
lized :  but  the  difficulties  encountered  in  attempting  to 
develop  single-phase,  alternating-current  motors,  capa- 
ble of  operation  at  the  high  frequency  then  used,  prac- 
tically prevented  f<ir  a  number  i)f  years  the  use  of 
alternating  current  fur  power  ])urposes.  It  was,  how- 
ever, rapidly  developed  and  extensively  applied  in  the 
field   of   incandescent    lighting. 

"  Tesla  patented  the  imlyphase  alternating-current 
motor  in  1888,  but  this  also  was  slow  in  development, 
owing  largely  to  the  fact  that  for  a  long  time  in  Amer- 
ica efforts  were  principally  directed  toward  the  de- 
velopment of  a  motor  adapted  to  the  high  frequency  of 
130  cycles  per  second.  In  1890  the  Westinghouse 
Company  adopted  as  standards  two  lower  frequencies 
—  60  cycles  per  second  and  30  cycles  per  second.  The 
step  facilitated  greatly  the  development  of  satisfactory 
polyphase  motors,  and  not  long  afterward  they  began  to 
come    into  commercial    use. 


y8  The  Pittiburg  Elcctriail  Hand- Book 

"The  commercial  significance  of  the  Lawrcnceville 
test  is  strikingly  illustrated  —  although  the  impression 
conveyed  by  the  illustration  is  a  somewhat  exagger- 
ated one  —  by  the  story  of  the  manager  of  the  gold 
mine  in  Colorado,  who,  in  1896.  was  able  to  operate  a 
stamp  mil!  located  at  a  distance  of  about  three  miles 
from  his  water-power  by  alternating  current  transmit- 
ted to  the  motor  over  a  circuit  consisting  of  iron  tele- 
phone wire  of  ordinary  size.  This  was  accomplished 
by  using  a  high-potential  single-phase  alternating  cur- 
rent. The  cost  of  the  telephone  wire  was  about  $60. 
It  is  stated  that  an  estimate  for  a  continuous-current 
plant  to  do  the  same  work  had  been  submitted  by  a 
manufacturer  of  continuous-current  machinery,  and 
that  these  plans  called  for  the  installation  of  copper 
circuits   costing   more   than   $60,000." 

"  To  my  mind,  the  most  important  events  in  connec- 
tion with  the  evolution  of  electric  transmission  in 
America  are:  (i)  The  Lawrenceville  test  of  1886,  by 
which  the  commercial  practicability  of  the  constant- 
potential  transformer  —  the  key  to  high-potential  trans- 
mission —  was  demonstrated ;  (2)  the  invention  of  the 
pol3-phase  motor,  patented  by  Nikola  Tesla  in  1888 ;  and 
(3)  the  adoption,  in  1893.  of  the  polyphase  alternating- 
current,  constant  potential  system  as  the  tneans  of 
distributing   power    from    Niagara   Falls. 

"  The  Lawrenceville  test  demonstrated  the  possibil- 
ities of  the  transformer  in  reducing  the  cost  of  trans- 
mitting circuits,  the  invention  of  the  polyphase  motor 
furnished  the  means  of  utilizing  the  transmitted  power 
for  power  purposes,  and  tlie  adoption  of  polyphase 
alternating  currents  by  the  Cataract  Construction  Com- 
pany for  the  great  work  at  Niagara  Falls  sealed  the 
commercial  success  of  the  system.  An  excellent  meter 
for  alternating  currents  had  been  invented  and  per- 
fected by  Shallenberger  as  early  as  1888,  and  Elihu 
Thomson  also  had  produced  an  effective  meter  for  the 
same    kind    of    service." 


be 

I 

i.     0) 


W   to 


Westmghouse  Machine  Co. 


[F  'I'H  E  prime  interest  of  the  elec- 
trical engineer  in  inspecting  the 
industrial  development  of  Pitts- 
burg centers  in  the  manufacture 
of  electrical  machinery  and  ap- 
pliances, he,  nevertheless,  soon 
directs  his  attention  to  machin- 
ery adapted  to  the  furnishing 
of  the  propulsive  force ;  in 
other  words,  the  prime  mover. 
At  East  Pittsburg  he  is  fortu- 
nate in  the  opportunity  of  ob- 
serving, in  their  proper  rela- 
tionship, the  construction  and  operation  of  prime 
mover,  generator,  controlling  and  translating  device  in 
the  most  recent  state  of  development  of  their  respec- 
tive   arts. 

The  manufacturing  operations  of  The  Westinghouse 
Machine  Company  are  primarily  devoted  to  the  produc- 
tion of  different  forms  of  prime  movers,  although  an 
important  branch  of  their  business  is  the  manufacture 
(if  mechanical  stokers.  The  combined  properties  of 
the  company  comprise  the  main  works  at  East  Pitts- 
burg, Pa.,  the  stoker  works  at  Cragin  (South  Chicago), 
111.,  and  the  recently  established  foundries  at  Trafford 
City,  Pa.,  located  about  three  miles  east  of  East  Pitts- 
burg near  the  Stewart  station  of  the  Pennsylvania 
R.   R.   main   line. 

In  the  main  works  at  East  Pittsburg  may  be  seen  in 
all  stages  of  completion  steam  engines  from  5  HP  to 
6,500  HP,  gas  engines  of  small  capacity  as  well  as  of 
the  heavy  duty  double-acting  type,  and  steam  turbines 
from  500  HP  to  7,500  HP  capacity.  The  turbines 
form  a  particularly  striking  exhibit  in  having  attained, 
within  so  recent  years,  the  most  prominent  position 
among   modern    prime    movers. 


Westinghousc  Machine  Co.  8j 

The  accompanj-iiig  view  clearly  shows  the  position  of 
the  main  works,  convenient  to  the  Pennsylvania  R.R. 
station  and  nestled  in  among  wooded  hills  surronnd- 
ing  the  beautiful  valley  of  Turtle  Creek.  Although 
Nature's  best  eflforts  in  contributing  to  the  earthly  com- 
fort of  man  have  here  been  partly  nullified  by  the  in- 
evitable concomitants  of  industrial  activitv,  there  still 
remains  a  romantic  beauty  invariably  commented  upon 
by  every  newcomer. 

In  general  appointment,  the  works  of  The  Westing- 
house  Machine  Company  bear  a  close  resemblance  to 
that  of  its  affiliated  neighbor,  the  Westinghouse  Elec- 
tric &  Manufacturing  Company,  and  thus  the  features 
of  the  latter,  previous!}'  described,  may,  to  a  large  de- 
gree,  be  considered   representative. 

The  engineering  and  administrative  offices  are  at 
present  located  in  ilu-  works  proper,  pending  the  erec- 
tion of  an  office  Ijuilding.  Lunch  rooms  are  maintained 
for  the  entire  official  and  engineering  force,  and  numer- 
ous lavatories  and  lockers  are  available  to  shop  men. 

In  the  foundry  establishment  at  Trafford  City,  the 
sociological  features  have  been  given  even  closer  atten- 
tion, due  to  its  comparative  isolation.  A  new  and 
thriving  industrial  city  has  been  established  upon  the 
most  modern  lines,  and  a  capacious  club  house  erected 
for  the  convenience  and  comfort  of  the  executive  force. 

The  general  arrangement  of  the  East  Pittsburg 
works,  as  shown  in  the  accomiianying  plan,  is  that 
which  ha-  bec<;nH-  characteristic  of  Westinghouse 
works  —  the  airangement  of  ];rincipal  buildings  in  long 
parallel  bay-,  each  served  by  numerous  electric  travel- 
ing cranes  at  one  or  more  ele\ations,  according  to  the 
height  of  work  handled.  In  order  to  supplement  the 
crane  service  with  means  for  shifting  work  from  bay 
to  bay  or  to  adjacent  buildings.  The  Westinghouse 
Machine  Company  ha-  (leveloi)ed  a  system  of  storage 
battery  auto  trucks  of  from  ten   to  fifty  tons  capacity. 

The  entire  work*-,  including  cranes,  is  electrically 
dri\en     by     220-\olt     polyjibase     current      (excepting     a 


84 


The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Hand-Book 


few  variable  speed  D.C.  motor  applications)  from 
a  central  power  station  comprising  about  1,500 
HP  in  gas  engines  operating  upon  natural  gas,  and 
1,000  HP  in  steam  engines  taking  steam  from  an  ad- 
jacent central  boiler  plant  which  also  supplies  steam 
hammers,  steam  for  turliine  and  engine  testing  and  for 
heating  purposes.  In  the  equipment  of  the  shop,  indi- 
vidual motor  drives  have  been  largely  employed  (e.  g., 
125  in.  X  30  ft.  engine  lathe)  with  group  driving  for 
the  smaller  tools.  Floor  plates  with  portable  electric 
driven  tools  are  also  used. 

A  feature  of  striking  interest,  in  which  The  West- 
inghouse  Machine  Company  practically  stands  alone,  is 
the  complete  testing  equipments  for  steam  engines,  gas 
engines  and  steam  turbines.  Before  shipment,  every 
prime  mover  from  a  5  HP  stoker  engine  to  a  7,500  HP 
■=team  turbine  is  subjected  to  complete  efficiency  tests 
under  ultimate  conditions  of  service.  Gas  engines  are 
tested  on  natural  or  producer  gas,  according  to  their 
design ;  steam  engines  under  varying  pressures  and 
vacua  ;  and  steam  turbines  under  guaranteed  conditions 
of    steam    pressure,    vacuum    and    superheat ;    all    meas- 


Testing  Westinghouse-Parsons  Steam  Turbines 


Westiiighouse  Machine  Co. 


S3 


Erecting:  7,500  HP  Stc-ani  Turbine 


urements  beinjj  based  upon  brake  hursepower,  electrical 
horse  power,  or  kilowatts.  In  the  turbine  erecting 
shop,  separate  testing  floors  are  equipped  for  machines 
of  400  KW  capacity,  and  from  750  up  to  2,000  KW 
capacity  respectively,  and,  in  the  main  building,  for 
turbines  up  to  5.500  KW  capacity,  this  probably  being 
the  largest  equipment  in  the  world  employed  solely  for 
testing    purposes. 

The  Trafford  City  foundry  is  likewise  operated  by 
polyphase  motor  drive  from  a  central  power  station, 
and  may  be  considered  in  every  detail  one  of  the  most 
completely  equipped  foundries  in  America.  Its  pattern 
storage  has  at  present  sufficient  capacity  to  accommo- 
date 50.000  patterns  of  all  sizes,  and  castings  up  to  60 
tons  in  weight  may  he  handled  with  the  present  equip- 
ment. 

Since  its  organization  in  1881  with  a  working  force 
of  10  men.  The  Westinghouse  Machine  Company  has 
grown  to  such  an  extent  that  3,500  men  are  now  em- 
ployed, and  the  properties  at  present  aggregate  nearly 
50  acres  witii  a  total  working  floor  area  of  20.4  acres. 
The  output,  exclusive  of  mechanical  stokers,  has  con- 
sisted entirely  of  prime  movers,  and  the  growth  of  busi- 
ness is  well  indicated  hy  the  present  rate  nf  output,  viz: 


86  The  Pittyhurg^  E/ft  trial/  Hand- Book 


The  Original  Westinghouse  Single  Acting  Engine  Unit 


150,000  HP  per  year;  little  less  than  200  times  the 
original   ai\nnal    outpnt. 

The  industrial  growth  of  The  Westinghouse  Machine 
Company  from  the  date  of  its  first  engagement  in 
manufacturing  undertakings  may  be  considered  to  be 
contemporaneous  with  and  typical  of  the  development 
of  modern  prime  movers.  A  brief  glance  into  its  his- 
tory is,  therefore,  instructive,  not  only  in  tiirowing 
light  upon  the  successive  steps  of  progress  in  American 
engine  practice,  but  also  to  enable  us  to  form  a  more 
accurate  conception  of  the  measure  of  advancement 
which   has   been   recorded. 

In  1880,  a  single-acting,  high  speed,  self-contained 
steam  engine  was  introduced  into  a  field  almost  ex- 
clusively devoted  to  slow  or  moderate  speed  double- 
acting  engines.  This  diminutive  engine,  illustrated 
above,  found  its  first  application  in  driving  a  small  15rush 
arc  generator  supplying  a  locomotive  headlight.  The 
desi(,m  of  the  engine  was  in  a  large  measure  the  result  ot 


Wcitinghousc  Machine  Co. 


s? 


conditions  imposed  by  tlie  special  and  difficult  character 
t)f  service;  and  it  is  now  with  renewed  interest  that,  in 
retracing  the  steps  of  progress,  we  find  embodied  in  this 
embryonic  motor  many  of  the  most  heartily  approved 
principles  of  modern  power  engineering^,  viz: 

The  direct  connection  of  engine  and  generator ; 

Vertical   design ; 

Non-reversible  stres^ses  ; 

High   speed; 

Self-contained  construction  ; 

Automatic   lubrication  ; 

The  use  of  high  steam  pressure. 

At  the  outset,  the  necessity  for  interior  compactness 
prescribed  the  vertical  construction  and  replacement  of 
the  then  universal  belt  transmission  by  direct  connec- 
tion with  an  outboard  bearing  to  support  the  generator 
shaft.  And.  as  the  engine  was  obliged  to  meet  the 
generator    speed — i,ooo    RP.M  —  the    single-acting    de- 


Assemblinn  7,.S0()  HI'  'rurbines  for  'I'cstinjr 


88  The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Hand- Booh 

sign  was  adopttd,  tlirough  which  an  important  ad- 
vantage was  realized  in  preventing  the  reversal  of 
mechanical  stresses  resulting  from  the  pressure  of 
steam  and  inertia  of  moving  parts.  Thus,  the  sensi- 
tiveness to  adjustment  characteristic  of  the  double- 
acting  engine  was,  to  a  large  degree,  avoided.  Al- 
though the  return  to  the  double-acting  principle  was 
later  necessitated  through  the  demand  for  larger 
powers,  the  single-acting  principle,  modified,  to  be 
sure,  from  reciprocating  to  rotary  motion,  now  finds  its 
latest  exponent  in  that  nearest  approximation  to  the 
ideal  motor,  the  Steam  Turbine.  Accompanying  the 
increase  in  running  speeds  came  a  proportional  de- 
crease in  size  and  cost  of  machinery,  with  the  result 
that  lo  electrical  HP  may  now  be  generated  upon  one 
square   foot  of  floor  area. 

Up  to  the  present  time,  vertical  design  has  been 
typical  of  the  most  compact  engine  construction,  but  the 
advent  of  the  turbine  brought  out  the  fact  that,  until 
a  corresponding  compactness  could  be  secured  in  steam 
generating  apparatus,  the  horizontal  design  with  its 
economic  and  operative  advantages  might  well  be  re- 
tained. 

The  enclosed  construction  of  the  original  engine  was 
necessary  to  protect  the  internal  moving  parts  from 
dust  and  from  general  ill-usage.  Incidentally,  the  ad- 
vantages of  automatic  splash  lubrication  became  pos- 
sible and  the  system  has  since  been  adopted  by  many 
builders. 

Again,  we  have  a  direct  parallel  in  the  modern  tur- 
bine, although  the  enclosed  construction  is  here  func- 
tional rather  than  fortuitous.  A  long  step  in  advance 
has,  however,  been  made  ;  internal  lubrication  has  been 
entirely  dispensed  with  and  that  necessary  at  the 
journals   is  automatically   supplied  by  the  turbine  itself. 

Finally,  the  steam  pressure  for  which  the  original 
Westinghouse  engine  was  designed  was  150  to  180 
pounds,  this  condition  being  prescribed  by  its  adapta- 
tion   to    steam    supply    from    the    locomotive.     In    the 


Westinghouse  Mdchinc  Co.  S(^ 

8o's,  the  prevalent  steam  pressures  for  power  work  were 
60  to  80  pounds  with  a  maximum  of  100.  Owing,  in  a 
large  degree,  to  the  introduction  of  water  tube  boilers, 
the  average  steam  pressure,  during  the  intervening 
years,  has  gradually  risen  to  125  pounds  in  engine 
work  with  a  maximum  of  perhaps  175  pounds.  The  in- 
fluence of  the  steam  turbine,  however,  has  already  been 
felt  in  the  general  advance  of  steam  pressures  to  an 
average  of  165  pounds  with  a  maximum  of  about  200. 

The  underlying  principle  of  early  Westinghouse  prac- 
tice was  that  of  subdivided  power,  at  that  time  quite 
unappreciated.  Applied  to  mill  work  and  power  sta- 
tions, greater  operative  economy  and  convenience  were 
found  to  be  realized,  and  to-day,  Ijy  virtue  of  its  fit- 
ness, the  principle  dominates  industrial  work  through 
the  medium  of  the  polyphase  motor  and  power  station 
desijrn,  from  absolute  necessity.  The  step  from  100  HP 
to  10,000  HP  units  has  been  accomplished  within  twenty 
years,  yet  power  stations  now  contain  perhaps  ten  and 
ultimately  twenty  units  of  5,000  to   10,000  HP  capacity. 

Returning  to  the  development  of  the  Westinghouse 
engines,  of  which  the  engine  above  referred  to  was 
the  forerunner,  we  observe  step  by  step  the  gradual  ad- 
vancement in  product  embodying  in  succession  the 
Standard  engine,  the  Junior  engine,  the  Compound  en- 
gine, tiie  Steeple  Compound,  the  Marine  or  Metropolitan 
type,  the  Horizontal  and  Vertical  Cross  Compound 
Corliss,  the  Three-cylinder  Compound  Corliss,  and 
finally  the  Steam  Turbine.  Some  of  these  types  are 
illustrated  in  these  pages.  It  may  be  of  passing  interest 
to  casually  glance  over  them,  noting  their  characteristic 
features. 

In  the  Standard  engine,  which  is  a  two-cylinder 
single  expansion  engine,  usually  operated  non-con- 
densing, we  find  the  balanced  piston  valve  employed 
with  success,  actuated  by  an  inertia  -^haft  governor 
located   within   the  engine  casing. 

By  remiival  nf  the  shaft  governor  to  tlu-  tly  wheel 
and   the   valve  chamber  to  the  to])   of  the  engine   cylin- 


Westinghouse  Miicbine  Co.  gi 

ders,  the  distance  between  cylinders  is  reduced  suffi- 
ciently to  o1)viate  tlie  necessity  of  a  central  bearing  to 
the    shaft. 

In  the  Compound  engine  are  embodied  the  principles 
of  multiple  expansion  with  a  radical  departure  in  steam 
distribution  from  the  methods  formerly  or  at  present 
employed.  Amid  so  many  representatives  of  the  re- 
ceiver type,  it  stands  today  as  the  sole  successful  repre- 
sentative of  the  Woolf  or  non-receiver  compound  steam 
engine.  Outside  of  general  design,  the  difference  be- 
tween transition  from  failure  to  success  has  been 
largely  traceable  to  the  arrangement  of  the  piston  valve 
which  simultaneously  controls,  through  the  agency  of 
an  inertia  shaft  governor,  the  e.xhaust  of  the  high 
pressure  and  inlet  of  the  low  pressure  cylinders. 

-Although  the  single-acting  designs  possessed  excel- 
lent features,  the  necessity  of  larger  powers  gradually 
forced  the  return  to  the  d(iul)le-actin<{  slow  speed  en- 
gine. .\t  the  Chicago  E.xposition,  in  i<Sg3,  was  exhib- 
ited, in  service,  the  first  type  of  double-acting  engine, 
the  Steeple  or  Vertical  Tandem  Compound.  These 
were  direct  connected  to  the  first  Westinghouse  two- 
phase  engine  type  .\.C.  generators,  and  formed  a 
memorable    exhibit. 

In  l8gi  a  new  de.-'ign  was  introduced;  the  Marine 
type.  The  engine  is  a  vertical  two-cylinder  compound 
engine  of  moderate  speed,  equipped  with  'a  balanced 
piston  val\e  on  the  high  pressure  cylinder  controlled 
by  an  inertia  shaft  governor,  and  a  double-ported  bal- 
anced slide  valve  on  the  lnw  pres-^ure  cylinder.  .\ 
number  of  these  engines  of  500  HP  capacity  are  oper- 
ating in  the  model  power  ])lant  of  the  Pennsylvania 
R.  R.  Company's  Union  Station  at  Pittsburg.  Pa.  De- 
signed to  operate  non-condensing  with  a  cylinder  ratio 
of  I  to  2?/j.  the  engines  ha\e.  ui)on  test,  given  a  steam 
consumption  of  20  lbs.  per  i  HP  steam  pressure  150 
lbs.,  back  pressure  i  lb.  Tested  on  vacuum,  they  showed 
a  steam  consuniiniun  of   fnun    15  tu    16  Ihs.  pt-r  NIP. 


g2 


The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Hand-Book 


With  the  demand  for  still  higher  powers  came  the 
development  of  the  Westinghouse-Corliss  Engine,  the 
design  of  which,  although  in  general  more  or  less  con- 
ventional, nevertheless,  embodies  several  distinctive 
features.  Perhaps  the  most  important  of  these  is  the 
use  of  poppet  steam  valves  to  accommodate  the  use  of 
superheated  steam.  In  Europe,  superheated  steam  has 
within  recent  j-ears  made  extensive  progress,  but  in  this 
country  its  use  and  introduction  has  been  seriously 
handicapped,  partly  by  lack  of  experience  with  it,  and 
largely  by  the  natural  hesitation  of  engine  builders  in 
changing  their  designs  to  suit  higher  steam  temper- 
atures. With  Corliss  valves,  the  use  of  superheated 
steam  has  not  proven  feasible,  due  to  the  difficulties  en- 
countered in  expansion  of  parts  and  in  securing  efficient 
lubrication.  With  poppet  valves,  these  difficulties  have 
been  overcome,  and  in  the  designs  of  Westinghouse- 
Corliss  engines  —  notably  those  installed  in  the  power 
stations  of  the  New  York  Edison  Company  and  the 
Boston  Elevated  Railway  Company  —  we  find  the  first 
example  of  the  serious  adoption,  upon  a  large  scale,  of 
superheated    steam   in   power   station   work   in   America. 

The  Three-Cylinder  Compound  Corliss,  first  installed 
in   the   New   York   Edison   station,   may  jtistly   be   con- 


Data 

Results  of  Tests 

High  pres.  cyl.       43^^x60^' 

Load,  I  HP      5442       3088 

Low  pres.  cyl.      75,'^x6o'^ 

Steam,  Lbs.       185.6       187 

Ratio  of  expansion,  i  to  6.02 

\'acuum,  Inches27.25       24.4 

Length  over  all,  41  ft. 

Water  per  IHP  11.93       '--^^ 

Width,  23  ft. 

Over  all  eff' ncy  95.2         93.9 

Height,  34  ft. 

Dry  Saturated  Steam 

Speed,  75  r.  p.  m. 

Steam  pressure,  175  lbs. 

Vacuum,  26  in. 

Superheat,  varying 

M^estinghouse  Machine  Co. 


93 


sidered  typical  of  tlie  highest  of  engine  design.  Eleven 
of  these  units  are  in  operation,  each  direct  connected  to 
3,500  KW  A.C.  generators  and  rated  at  5.560  indicated 
horse  power,  with  a  maximum  overload  of  8.340  HP. 

An  interesting  feature  peculiar  to  this  type  of  engine 
is  tlie  irregular  spacing  of  cranks.  Instead  of  120°, 
they  are  spaced  at  126°,  133°  and  101°  respectively,  the 
object  of  this  departure  from  uniform  spacing  being  to 
decrease,  at  normal  loads,  the  angular  displacement 
from  uniform  rotation,  thus  correspondingly  decreasing 
the  requisite  fly  wheel  capacity  and  incidentally  the 
difficulty  of  operating  alternating  current  generators  in 
parallel. 

The  Xew  York  Edison  station  probably  represents 
the  limit  of  compactness  in  power  station  design  where 
reciprocating  engines  are  employed.  A  comparison  of 
the  five  large  New  York  power  stations  will  illustrate: 


Station 


Type  of  Engine 


Sq.ft.  per  rated  HP 


Normal 


N.  Y.  Edison..  .1  Vertical    3-cylinder 

Compound .64 

Metropolitan...  X'ertical  Cross  Com- 
pound    .qS 

Kintrsbrid>rc..  .  .    X'erticai  Cross Com- 

j)ound I       I. eg 

.Manhattan   ....    Horizontal   X'erticai 

Cross  Compound..        1.23 

l\a])i(]  Transit..    Horizontal  Vertical 

Cross  Compound. .        1.45 


Max. 


•42 
■74 
•79 
.82 

•93 


A  most  important  branch  of  the  Ea-^t  ritt^l)urg  in- 
dustry is  that  devoted  to  the  manufacture  of  gas  en- 
gines. .\ttracted  by  its  superior  thermal  efficiency.  The 
Westinghousc  Machine  Company  in  the  early  90's  took 
up  its  development,  and  in  1896,  introduced  the  type 
into  which  experimental   development  work  had  crystal- 


94 


The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Hand- Book 


Power-house  Westinghouse  Maeiun 


lized.  viz :  a  multi-cylinder  vertical,  single-acting,  en- 
closed type  engine,  working  on  the  Beau  de  Rochas 
or  four-stroke  cycle  with  constant  quality  of  explosive 
mixture.  In  opposition  to  the  established  precedent  of 
hit-and-miss  governing,  the  engine  was  equipped  with 
a  centrifugal  governor  proportioning  to  the  load  on 
the  engine  the  quantity  of  mixture  at  every  inspiration 
stroke.  This  improvement  led  to  the  adoption  of  the 
engine  for  generator  driving,  and  today  this  applica- 
tion constitutes  its  most  promising  field  for  future  de- 
velopments. Engines  up  to  1,500  Brake  HP  have  been 
built,  and  one  of  double  this  size  is  now  under  con- 
struction. Natural,  Coal,  Blast  Furnace  and  Pro- 
ducer gas  have  proven  entirely  suitable  for  power  pur- 
poses, yielding  about  the  same  thermal  efficiency,  viz : 
10,000  to  12,000  British  thermal  units  per  Brake  HP  hour. 
The  problem  of  the  successful  operation  of  A.C.  gen- 
erators in  multiple  by  gas  engines  was  for  the  first 
time  in  America  solved  upon  a  practical  scale  in  the 
power-house  of  this  company  and  also  in  that  of  the 
Union    Switch    and    Signal    Co.,    Swissvale.      Thi-;    has 


Westinghouse  Machine  Co. 


95 


opened  the  vast  field  of  A.C.  power  work,  resulting  in 
the  development  of  the  Westinghouse  heavy  duty 
double-acting  gas  engine.  Built  both  horizontal  and 
vertical,  according  to  requirements,  and  embodying 
many  features  of  established  steam  engine  practice,  this 
type  represents  the  culmination  of  advancement  in  the 
utilization  of  gas  power.  The  engine  is  built  in  either 
tandem  or  cross  tandem  arrangement,  the  latter  with 
cranks  set  at  90°  angularity,  thus  giving  four  power  im- 
pulses per  revolution.  Cylinders,  pistons,  combustion 
and  valve  chambers  are  water  cooled,  and  starting  is 
accomplished  by  compressed  air  stored  in  tanks. 

This  type  has  proven  suitable  for  direct  connection 
to  engine  type  A.C.  generators  of  the  usual  frequencies. 
In  San  Luis  Potosi,  Mexico,  a  model  gas  power  plant 
recently  commenced  operation  with  three  250  HP  three- 
phase  units  using  producer  gas.  It  serves  the  city  with 
light   and    power. 

The  awakening  of  the  interest  of  the  American  engi- 
neering public  to  the  advantages  of  the  steam  turbine 
is  now  an  interesting  historical  fact  practically  identi- 
fied with  the  beginning  of  the  present  century. 
Through  the  indefatigable  efforts  of  the  Hon.  Chafles 
A.  Parsons,  the  turbine  had  won  a  permanent  standing 
in    English   territory,  and   in    iSyfx  manufacturing   rights 


1 

0  j|wmH|| 

m^s-^^^^n^:^ 

^^0^^m 

Multi-Cylirnter  (las  Engines  on  Testing;  Floor 


g6  The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Ha/ui-Book 


Corliss  Erecting  Bay 


were  acquired  by  The  Westinghouse  Machine  Com- 
pany. Dating  from  the  first  installation  in  1899  at  the 
works  of  The  Westinghouse  Air  Brake  Company,  the 
Westinghouse- Parsons  turbine  has,  within  a  period  of 
five  years,  been  introduced  to  the  extent  of  200,000  HP 
in  American  and  British  territory,  and  the  output  of  the 
Parsons  type  of  all  builders'  approximates  a  .total  of 
60,000  HP.*^"^"> 

Realizing  that  the  most  important  field  of  the  turbine 
lay    in    the    generation    of    alternating    current    electric 


Westinghouse  Machine  Co.  gy 


Horizontal  Double-Actingf  Gas  Engine 

power,    tlie   operations    of    the    company    have    been,    up 
to  the  present  time,  confined  to  this  field. 

The  turbo-generator  has  thus  been  developed  simul- 
taneously with  the  American  Parsons  turbine,  and 
starting  with  a  unit  of  moderate  size  —  400  KW  —  the 
sizes  manufactured  have  gradually  increased  simul- 
taneously with  the  increase  of  confidence  in  the  turbine 
until  at  the  present  time  turbine  power  units  ranging 
up  to  5.500  KW  capacity  are  being  manufactured. 
Eleven  of  these  units  are  in  various  stages  of  com- 
pletion in  the  American  and  British  factories.  The  ad- 
vantages of  the  turbine  are  too  w'ell  known  to  require 
comment  here,  but  closer  acquaintance  resulting  from  a 
visit  to  the  shop  cannot  fail  to  further  emphasize  its 
extreme  compactness,  its  simplicity  of  construction,  the 
facility  with  which  it  is  erected  and  operated,  and  the 
economy  which  it  shows  under  test.  The  construction 
of  the  Westinghouse  product  is  also  no  secret.  A 
visit  to  the  shop  is  further  profitable  by  a  more 
thorough  knowledge  of  details:  The  simple  nietiiod  of 
blade  mounting:  the  water-sealed  packing  glands  sur- 
rounding the  shaft :  the  automatic  speed  limit,  the 
automatically  controlled  secondary  valve,  enabling  tlie 
turbine  to  carry  enormous  overloads;  the  oil  cushioned 
journals  employed  on  smaller  sizes:  the  construction  of 
the  rotating  field  of  the  alternator ;  and  the  methods 
of  obtaining  brake  and  electrical  tests. 


98 


The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Hand-Book 


The  testing  department  justly  forms  a  most  im- 
portant part  of  the  manufacturing  equipment,  in  that 
the  results  obtained  convey  precisely  the  information 
desired  of  a  prime  mover,  viz :  the  steam  consumption 
per  unit  of  useful  work  done  at  the  shaft  or  generator 
terminals.  Tests  are  regularly  conducted  from  zero  to 
full  and  overloads  under  steam  pressures  up  to  150  lbs. 
with  superheat  from  zero  to  300°  F.  and  vacua  ranging 
from  29-30  of  the  barometer  reading  down  to  atmos- 
pheric pressure.  The  followinir  results  obtained  upon 
a  comparatively  small  machine  —  400  K\V  —  will  give  an 
indication  of  the  progress  that  has  been  made  by  the 
turbine : 


180' 
Super- 
heat 

100° 
Super- 
heat 

Dry 

Stea.m 

Load      BHP 

Steam  Pressure     Lbs .... 

^'acuum     in.  (30'') 

Superlieat     Deg.  F 

Water  per  BHP  hr 

763 
•51 
27.9 
182 
II. 17 

592 

154 
27.9 
181 
11.45 

759 
150 

27.95 
104 

12.07 

595 
156 

27.9 
109 

12.41 

728 

153 
27.9 

593 
154 
27.9 

13-63 

13-91 

A  wealth  of  information  of  like  character  is  vailable 
to  the  visitor,  which  reflects  not  only  the  achievements 
of  this  one  manufacturing  concern,  but  also  serves  as 
an    indication   of   American    industrial    progress    in   one 

of  its  most  important  branches. 


Westingfhouse  Foundry  at  Trafford  City 


Ufiiofi  Switch  &  Sig?ial  Co. 


|HE   works  and   the  home  office   of 

tile   I'nion    Switch   &   Signal   Co. 

are  situated  at  Swissvale,  Pa.,  on 

*!M«  ■Si'W*     ^^^^    main    line    of    the    Pennsyl- 

^M --■cljf^^f^^^^     \'^iiia   Railroad,   eight   miles   east 

wV       Ini'^^'T^A.        "*   ^^^'^    Pittsburg   Union   Station. 

^*^i      liri   -"^tttrw        'I'l^n.   Iniildings   cover   an   area   of 

169,200  square  feet,  and  the  shops 

have     a     floor     area     of    290,520 

square    feet.      In   the   works   and 

home  office  about   i,coo  men  are 

employed,   and   the  outside   force 

employed     on     installation     runs 

from  300  to  600  men,  according  to  the  number  and  size 

of  contracts  in  process  of  execution. 

The  company  was  organized  in  1882,  and  Mr.  George 
Westinghouse  is  the  president.  This  concern  was 
formed  to  carry  on  the  work  of  protecting  railroads 
by  the  interlocking  of  switches  and  signals,  and  bj> 
block  signals  of  various  kinds,  and  its  product  now 
embraces  a  great  variety  of  apparatus  for  the  protection 
of  moving  trains  :  but  a  considerable  iiart  of  its  product 
is  frogs,  switches  and  crossings,  which  business  was 
developed  naturally  as  auxiliary  to  the  interlocking 
and  signaling  business. 

At  the  outset  the  interlocking  was  entirely  by  mechan- 
ical apparatus,  and  the  Union  Company  early  secured 
control  of  the  famous  Saxby  &  Farmer  devices,  the 
patents  on  which  have  gradually  expired;  but  the 
Saxby  &  barnuT  machine,  as  inii)rii\c(l  frmn  time  to 
time,  is  still  considered  by  the  I'nidU  Company  the 
best  mechanical  interlocking.  It  buil(l>.  however,  half 
a  dozen  other  types. 

The  Union  Company  very  early  took  up  ])ower  inter- 
locking, and  installed  hydraulic  and  hydro-iMieumatic 
machines.     These   were   soon    replaced   bv   the   Westing- 


I02  The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Hand- Book 

house  Electro-pneumatic  machine,  which  quickly  es- 
tahlished  itself  as  the  highest  development  of  power 
interlocking,  and  within  the  last  thirteen  years  the 
Union  Company  has  booked  orders  for  4726  electro- 
pneumatic  levers.  Its  installations  of  this  class  of 
interlocking  protect  many  of  the  most  important  passen- 
ger terminals  in  the  world ;  as  for  example,  at  the 
Pittsburg,  the  Broad  Street,  Philadelphia,  and  the  Jersey 
City  Terminals  of  tlie  Pennsylvania  Lines;  at  the 
Boston  Southern  Station,  and  at  the  St.  Louis  Union 
Station.  Until  recently  the  installation  at  the  Boston 
Southern  Station  was  the  largest,  the  machine  there 
having  143  levers.  Quite  recently,  however,  the  Com- 
pany has  installed  at  St.  Louis  a  machine  containing 
215  levers  worked  in  combination  with  two  smaller 
machines.  These  three  electro-pneumatic  machines  per- 
form a  duty  that  would  require  800  mechanical  working 
levers.  In  this  system  the  movement  of  switches  and 
signals  is   effected  by  compressed  air,   distributed   from 


Automatic  Block  Sigrnals   P.  R.  R. — Westinghouse 
Electro-Pneumatic 


U/iio/i  Switch  cif  Signal  Co.  loj 

a  central  station,  the  operating  valves  being  controlled 
by  elecricity.  The  Company  has  recently  brought  out 
a  system  of  interlocking  in  which  all  of  the  work  is 
done  by  electricity.  Each  of  these  systems  has  its 
special  advantages,  and  the  choice  of  the  system  must 
be   governed   by   local    conditions. 

Early  in  the  development  of  the  art  of  automatic 
block  signaling  the  Company  brought  out  an  electro- 
pneumatic  system  of  automatic  signaling.  Here  the 
power  to  clear  the  signals  is  compressed  air,  which  is 
distributed  along  the  line  of  railroad,  either  way  from 
central  compressing  stations.  The  valves  which  admit 
the  air  to  the  signal  cylinders  are  actuated  by  electricity, 
and  are  controlled  by  track  circuits  in  such  a  way  as 
to  make  the  movement  of  signals  depend  entirely  upon 
the  progress  of  trains  through  the  blocks.  A  good 
example  of  this  class  of  signaling  may  be  seen  on  the 
Pennsylvania  Railroad  leading  out  of  Pittsburg.  It 
is  extensively  used  in  other  places  and  on  other  roads. 
This  apparatus  is  simple  and  robust,  and  there  are 
great  advantages  in  having  ample  power  for  clearing 
the  signals,  but  the  cost  of  distributing  the  power  is 
considerable,  which  fact  has  led  to  many  efforts  to  intro- 
duce other  forms  of  automatic  signaling. 

A  few  years  ago  the  Company  produced  a  semaphore 
signal  actuated  by  an  electric  motor  which  is  controlled 
through  a  track  circuit  precisely  as  the  electro-pneu- 
matic signals  are  controlled.  This  has  been  very  suc- 
cessful, and  up  to  the  end  of  July,  1904,  the  Company 
has  booked  orders  for  5840  signals  of  this  type.  Its 
electro-pneumatic  signals  at  that  date  numbered  6250. 
It  will  be  seen  that  the  electric  motor  signal  is  rapidly 
overhauling  the  electro-pneumatic,  a  fact  which  is  due 
entirely  to  the  difference  in  cost  of  installation.  At  the 
same  cost  the  electro-pneumatic  would  almost  always 
be  preferred. 

The  Company  makes  several  other  styles  of  automatic 
signals,  as  well  as  simple  mechanical  signals  for  tele- 
graph blocks  and  for  other  purposes. 


U/iion  Szvitch  i>'  Signal  Co.  lOj 

A  type  (if  block  signals  much  used  in  England,  but 
not  used  in  the  United  States,  is  the  controlled  manual, 
and  the  Union  Company  developed  some  excellent  ap- 
paratus for  this  kind  of  signaling,  which  is  used  on 
the  New  York  Central  more  extensively  than  anywhere 
else  in  America.  The  present  tendency  is  to  replace 
manual  signals  by  automatic  in  order  to  reduce  the 
wages  account,  and  now  there  are  not  many  calls  for  the 
controlled   manual    system. 

The  progress  cf  the  use  of  electricity  as  a  motive 
power  for  heavy  and  fast  traffic  has  made  it  necessary 
to  bring  forward  still  another  system  of  signaling.  It 
is  obvious  that  the  use  of  the  rails  for  the  return  of 
propulsion  current  introduces  a  difficulty  in  the  control 
of  signals  by  a  track  circuit.  This  difficulty  the  Union 
Switch  &  Signal  Company  has  met  by  using  alternating 
current  for  the  track  circuit.  Direct  current  is  taken 
from  the  distribution  system  for  propulsion  and  passed 
through  motor  generators,  and  alternating  current  at  a 
low  voltage  is  delivered  on  the  rails  for  the  track 
circuit.  A  selecting  relay  is  introduced  which  is  sensi- 
tive only  to  the  alternating  current,  and  thus  the  direct 
return  current  is  prevented  from  interfering  with  the 
control  of  the  signals.  This  system  was  first  put  in 
practical  use  on  the  North  Shore  Railway  in  California, 
where  a  number  of  signals  were  installed  in  November 
of  1903.  .\  very  important  application  of  this  system 
is  now  in  progress  on  the  lines  of  the  Interborough 
Rapid  Transit  Co.  in  New  York  City.  The  require- 
ments there  are  very  severe.  I  he  trains  are  heavy, 
fast  and  frequent,  and  a  great  (|uantity  of  propulsion 
current  must  be  dealt  with.  The  express  tracks  are 
to  be  protected  by  a  complete  automatic  block  system, 
and  cur\es  and  stations  on  the  liical  tracks  will  also 
be  protected  by  block  signals.  There  are  numerous 
turnouts  and  crossovers,  and  other  points  where  inter- 
locking must  be  introduced,  and  the  interlocked  signals 
must  be  controlled  by  the  block  signal  circuits.  Further- 
more, automatic  trips  are  designed,  to  come  into  action 


io6 


The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Hand- Book 


and  stop  a  train  in  case  a  signal  at  danger  is  passed, 
and  these  also  are  controlled  through  the  signaling 
circuits.  This  work  is  now  approaching  completion,  and 
at  the  time  of  writing  these  words  it  is  expected  that 
much  of  the  signaling  will  be  in  condition  to  be  tested 
out  and  instruction  trains  will  be  run  by  the  middle  of 
August.  The  signals  in  the  sub-way  portion  of  this 
line,  which  is  much  the  greater  portion,  are  light  sig- 
nals only,  showing  red  for  "stop,"  green  for  "proceed," 
and  yellow  for  "caution."  Out  of  doors  semaphores 
will  be  used  with  the  same  arrangement  of  colors  for 
night  signaling. 

It  is  impracticable  to  give  here  anything  more  than 
a  general  account  of  the  work  of  this  Company,  but 
at  its  home  office  in  Swissvale  there  are  excellent  ar- 
rangements for  showing  the  apparatus  made,  full  size 
and    in   working  condition. 


•  life'   • 


Electro-Pneumatic  Block  Sigrnals.  New  York  Subway 


Westinghoiise  Traction  Brake  Co. 


[he  product  of  this  Company  con- 
sists of  power  1)rakes  for  street 
railway  service.  It  has  adapted 
tile  regular  Westinghouse  railway 
schedules  to  the  use  of  street 
railway  equipments  and  has  per- 
fected axle  and  motor-driven 
compressors  to"  take  the  place  of 
the  steam-driven  compressor,  usu- 
ally found  on  steam  locomotives. 
Its  general  office  is  in  New  York 
City.  l)ut  all  the  apparatus  is 
manufactured  at  the  works  of  the 
Westinghouse  .\ir  Brake  Co.,  at  Wilmerding,  on  the 
Pennsylvania  railroad.  15  miles  east  of  the  Union  station 
at  Pittsburo^,  Pa.  This  factory  is  by  far  the  lar^rest 
brake  building  plant  in  the  world,  employing  ordinarily 
about  3,000  men.  and  having  a  capacity  of  over  i.aoo 
brake  sets  per  day.  The  plant  was  erected  in  1889,  and 
has  been  added  to  from  time  to  time  to  meet  the  growth 
of  the  brake  business.  The  engraving  shows  these  works 
and  part  of  the  surrounding  town.  In  the  works  there 
are  about  9  acres  of  floor  .space ;  while  the  works  and 
yards  occupy  about  30  acres. 

The  general  office  building  of  stone  and  brick  is  sit- 
uated on  the  side  hill  opposite  the  works  and  a  short 
distance  from  them.  The  various  offices  of  the  Company 
occupy  the  second  and  third  floors,  part  of  the  basement 
and  first  floor  being  given  up  to  the  Young  Men's  Chris- 
tian Association.  The  general  arrangement  and  fittings 
f)f  these  offices  are  elegant  and  most  suitalile  for  the 
administrative  department  nf  such  a  ijromincnt  and  long 
established  company.  The  situation  and  surroundings 
of  the  building  arc  beautiful  and  the  views  from  the 
windows  looking  over  the  valleys  and  shops  are  excep- 
tionally picturesciue. 


no  The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Hand- Book 


Central  Aisle  of  Machine  Shop 


The  central  power  station  consists  of  four  400  K\\ 
Westinghouse-Parsons  steam  turbines  direct  connected 
to  2  phase  alternating  current  generators  440  volts. 
The  current  is  distributed  to  about  60  induction  motors 
throughout  the  works  aggregating  nearly  1,300  horse 
power. 

One  of  the  most  unique  features  of  these  works  is 
the  iron  foimdry  where  iron  is  poured  continually,  the 
molds  being  set  on  movable  tables  which  pass  in  front 
of  the  moulding  machines,  core  makers,  cupolas  and 
cleaning  floor.  The  cut  of  the  iron  foundry,  page  114, 
will  give  an  idea  of  how  this  arrangement  is  carried 
out.  The  daily  capacity  of  the  foundry  is  about  200 
tons  whereas  the  number  of  men  employed  is  only 
about  550. 

Above  is  shown  the  central  aisle  of  the  long  macliine 


Westinghouse  Traction  Brake  Co.  Ill 

shop  building.  The  castings  from  the  iron  foundry  are 
brought  into  the  lower  floor  of  this  aisle  for  distribu- 
tion. The  large  iron  castings  are  machined  on  the 
lower  floor  to  the  right  and  left.  The  small  iron  cast- 
ings are  machined  in  the  gallery  on  the  right,  while  the 
brass  is  all  finished  in  the  gallery  on  the  left.  There 
are  employed  in  the  machine  shop  about  i,6oo  men. 

Below  is  shown  a  portion  of  the  gallery  in  which  the 
smaller  iron  parts  are  machined.  The  machines  are 
operated  by  shafting  in  short  lengths  driven  by  small 
induction  motors.  Due  to  the  large  number  of  brake 
equipments  being  manufactured  every  inch  of  available 
space  has  necessarily  lieen  utilized.  The  pipe  rising 
from  the  floor  back  of  each  machine  contains  wires  con- 
nected to  the  incandescent  lamp  which  swings  from  the 
upper  end  so  as  to  furnish  light  to  the  machinist. 


\'ie\v  in  (lallery 


An  industrial  railway  connects  the  various  buildings 
and  parts  of  the  yard,  it  contains  about  6,000  feet  of 
track  and  the  locomotives  are  electrically  propelled  by 
storage   batteries.     Steam    railway   connections    are   also 


112  The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Hand-Book 

made  with  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  and  the  Westing- 
house  Interworks  Railway. 

This  cut  shows  a  corner  in  the  motor  compressor  test 
room  where  every  compressor  that  is  made  for  supply- 
ing compressed  air  for  the  various  air  brake  equip- 
ments of  electrically  operated  traction  lines,  is  thorough- 
ly tested  both  for  efficiency  i.nd  endurance.  The  two 
compressors  shown  with  gear-case  cover  removed  ha\'e 
motor   and    pump-shaft    gears   connected   by   the    Morse 


Motor  Compressor  Testing  Room 


silent  running  frictionless  chain.  The  Westinghouse 
motor  compressors  are  however  also  arranged  for  regu- 
lar gear-drive   with  herringbone   gears. 

The  accompanying  diagram  illustrates  the  equipment 
known  as  the  Straight  Air  Brake.  It  is  the  same  in 
principle   as   the   original    Westinghouse    brake,   consist- 


Westinghouse  Traction  Brake  Co. 


J 13 


ing  of  compressor  for  obtaining  the  compressed  air  and 
reservoir  in  which  it  is  stored;  a  cylinder,  the  piston  rod 
of  which  is  connected  to  the  foundation  brake  gear  in 
such   a  manner  that  when  the  air  pressure  is  admitted 


Straiiiht  Air  Brake  Equipment 


to  the  cylinder  tlie  brake  shoes  press  against  tlie  wheels 
thereby  applying  the  retarding  force.  The  principal 
parts  of  this  equipment  are  the  compressor,  governor, 
brake  cylinder  and  operating  valve. 


114 


The  Pittsburg  Electric  a,  Hand-Book 


Foundry 

The  governor  illustrated  consists  of  a  single-pole, 
double-break,  snap  switch  operated  by  a  small  air 
cylinder  and  slide  valve  arrangement  so  that  when  a 
given  maximum  pressure  is  obtained  in  the  reservoir 
the   switch   is  thrown  to  a  position  to  break  the  circuit 


The  Governor 


Westinghouse  Traction  Brake  Co.  j ij 

to  the  motor ;  and  when  this  pressure  falls  to  a  pre- 
determined minimum  the  switch  is  thrown  to  the  other 
position  so  as  to  make  the  circuit  to  the  motor  and 
cause  the  pump  to  operate. 

The  motor-driven  compressor  consists  of  a  horizontal, 
duplex,  single-acting  pump  connected  by  gearing  or 
chain  drive  to  a  small  four-pole,  direct-current,  series 
motor. 

The  operating  valve  illustrated  consists  of  a  slide 
valve  connected  through  rack  and  pinion  to  a  swinging 
handle  so  that  when  this  handle  is  in  certain  positions, 
ports  in  the  slide  valve  seat  are  made  to  connect  either 
the   reservoir   to   the   brake  cvlinder   and   admit   air   for 


Motor  Driven  Coinprrssor 


ap])lying  tlie  brakes,  or  to  connect  the  brake  cylinder  to 
the  atmosphere  and  release  them.  Of  course,  by  proper 
manipulation  the  pressure  of  the  brake  cylinder  may  be 
graduallv  raised   or  lowered   to  anv  desired  extent.     A 


Ji6 


The  Pittsburg  Electrhal  Hand- Book 


gauge  placed  on  the  top  of  the  valve  is  connected  to 
cavities  in  the  valve  body  so  that  one  hand  will  show 
reservoir  pressure  and  the  other  brake-cylinder  pressure. 
The  Axle  Driven  Compressor  is  sometimes  required 
in  place  of  one  operated  by  a  separate  motor.  It  is 
installed  in  the  Straight  Air  Brake  equipment  quite  the 
same  as  the  Motor  Driven  unit,  and  consists  of  a 
horizontal,  double-acting,  single-cylinder,  gear-driven 
pump,  arranged  so  that  it  can  be  mounted  upon  the 
same  axle  with  the  car  motor.  The  accompanying  cut 
shows  the  air  cylinder  in  ghost  outline  and  the  piston 
and  crank  shaft  full. 


Axle  Driven  Compressor 


The  accompanying  diagram  shows  the  equipment  for 
automatic  brakes  such  as  are  commonlj'  used  on  the 
steam  railway  systems.  This  equipment  is  always  pre- 
ferable w^here  cars  are  operated  in  trains,  because  with 
it  the  breaking  in  two  of  the  train  or  anj'  disruption  of 
the  air  brake  system  immediately  and  automatically  ap- 
plies  the   brakes   and   brings    the   train   to  a    stand-still. 


Westinghouse  Traction  Brake  Co.  iiy 

The  apparatus  going  to  make  up  the  equipment  is  very 
similar  to  that  of  the  straight  air  brake  with  the  excep- 
tion   that    an    auxiliary    reservoir    is    connected    to    the 


Automatic  Brake  Etiuipmcnt 


ii8 


The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Hand- Book 


l)rake  cylinder,  and  a  triple  valve  makes  proper  con- 
nection between  the  train  pipe,  auxiliary  reservoir  and 
brake  cylinder,  so  that  when  the  brakes  are  applied  air 
flows  from  the  auxiliary  reservoir  to  the  brake  cylinder  ; 
and  when  they  are  released  the  brake  cylinder  is  con- 
nected to  the  atmosphere  and  the  auxiliary  reservoir 
is  recharged  from  the  train  pipe  and  main  reservoir. 
The  operating  vahe  in  this  case  is  of  different  design 
and  construction  because  of  the  fact  that  witli  the  auto- 
matic system  the  train  pipe  pressure  is  reduced  to  apply 
the  brakes  and  increased  to  release  them,  whereas  with 
the   straight  air  the   opposite  occurs. 


The   Operating  Valve 


This  system  has  been  adopted  in  many  places  because 
of  its  simplicity  and  also  low  cost  of  maintenance.  The 
compressor  and  governor  of  the  systems  just  described 
are  replaced  with   storage   reservoirs  designed   for  high 


lf\'stinghou5C  Tractifj/i  Brake  Co. 


ll<^ 


pressures  and  a  reducing  valve  wliich  supplies  the 
operating  system  with  air  at  the  usual  pressure.  The 
storage  reservoirs  are  connected  by  piping  with  coup- 
ling fittings  on  each  side  of  the  car  so  that  at  a 
charging  station  the  usual  hose  coupling  can  be  quickly 
coupled  and  the  storage  reservoirs   recharged. 

The  accompanying  cut  will  show  how  simple  is  this 
recharging  operation  and  how  little  space  is  required  for 
the  recharging  connections.     The  car  shown  in   the  cut 


Charging  Brakes  on  Car  with  Storage  Equipment 


is  one  of  the  St.  Louis  'iVansit  Co.'s  system,  operating 
between  the  city  of  St.  Louis  and  the  World's  Fair 
grounds,  all  of  which  are  being  equipped  with  the  West- 
inghouse    Traction    Rrako    Equipment. 

The  accompanying  cut  shows  the  W'estinghou^e   Elcc- 


120  The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Hand-Book 


Majrnetic  Brake 


tro-AIagnetic  brake  which  has  been  extensively  adopted 
for  various  clashes  of  traction  service  and  proven  emi- 
nently successful.  This  is  the  brake  which  was  adopted 
by  the  City  of  Bath.  England,  for  the  Municipal 
Tramways,   after   extensive    investigation   and   trials. 

The  high  speed  attained  by  the  street  cars  in  the  city 
of  Pittsburg  has  been  very  largely  made  practicable 
and  safe  by  the  application  of  this  brake,  which  actuates 
both  on  the  rails  and  wheels.  Unlike  other  track  brakes 
the  drag  of  the  rail  shoes  is  not  due  to  the  weight 
taken  from  the  force  with  which  the  car  bears  on  the 
rails  through  its  wheels.  The  pressure  of  the  track 
shoes  on  the  rail  is  derived  entirely  from  the  pull 
of  the  electro  magnet  of  which  the  shoes  form  the 
poles  and  the  rails  the  armature.  The  weight  of  the 
car  upon  the  rails  remaining  practically  unimpaired 
and  may,  therefore,  be  utilized  to  the  fullest  extent  for 
the  braking  force  apolied  through  the  customary 
medium    of  the   wheels. 

Another    and    important    advantage    of    this    brake    is 


Westinghouse   Traction  Brake  Co. 


Brill  Truck  Equipped  with  Magrnetic  Brake 

its  independence  of  the  trolley  circuit,  the  current 
which  energizes  the  magnet  being  generated  by  the 
motors  transformed  to  generators.  This  is  done 
through  proper  arrangement  in  the  controller  so  that 
when  it  is  desired  to  apply  the  brake  the  motor  leads 
are  reversed  and  the  momentum  of  the  car  compels  the 
motors,  now  generators,  to  supply  such  current  as  is 
necessary  for  the  magnets.  Immediately  upon  being 
energized  the  track  shoes  are  thrown  into  contact  with 
the    rails    and    the    sliding    friction    forces    the    magnet, 


Works  of  American   Brake  Co. 


The  Pittshurg  Electrical  Hand- Book 


Car  of  Pittsburg  Railways  Co. 


which  is  elastically  suspended,  toward  the  rear  wheels 
thus  applying  the  shoes  to  each  pair  of  wheels  through 
the  system  of  levers  shown  in  the  accompanying  cuts. 
Thus  to  the  ordinary  retardation  of  the  wheel  shoes 
is    added    that    of    the    track    brake    and    also    the    back 


Pittsburg,  McKeesport  &  Connellsville  Car 


Weitiiighouse  TfiUtio/i  Briikc  Co. 


'^3 


Grid  Resistance 


torque  of  the  motors.  For  controlling  the  current  sup- 
plied by  the  motors,  its  E.  M.  F.  is  divided  between 
the  electro  magnets  and  diverters  in  such  a  ratio  as 
to  cause  such  braking  force  as  is  required.  These 
diverters  may  be  simply  grid  resistance  or  may  be 
placed  under  the  seats  in  tlie  car  and  utilized  as  heaters 


Heater 


124 


The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Hand- Book 


during  cold  weather.     In  this  way  both  braking  power 
and  car  heating  are  obtained  without  extra  cost. 

Other  interesting  features  of  the  magnetic  brake  of 
interest  and  great  value  are :  since  the  current  generated 
by  the  motors  declines  with  the  speed  during  a  stop 
the  increased  coefficient  of  friction  at  the  lower  speeds 


(ieneral  Offices 


is  thereby  offset.  In  bad  weather  when  the  condition 
of  the  rails  is  liable  to  be  accompanied  by  wheel- 
sliding,  the  braking  force  operating  the  w'heel  brake 
is  correspondingly  reduced  so  that  the  force-  of  appli- 
cation of  the  wheel  brake  is  automatically  proportioned 
to  the  rail  friction  which  rotates  the  wheels.  If  by 
chance  the  wheels  should  slide,  the  magnetising  current 


Westinghousc  Traction  Brake  Co.  I2j 

at  once  ceases  and  the  pressure  of  the  brake  shoes  upon 
the  wheels  is  instantly  relaxed  so  that  rotation  of 
the  wheels  is  resumed  without  iniurv  or  lo^.^  of  time. 


IniiustriHi    kanway 


Power  House  Westinsr'iouse  Traction  Brake  Co. 


Street  Scene.  Pittsburg 
Illuminated  by  Nernst  Lamps 


Nernst  Lamp  Company 


HE  development  of  the  arc  lamp, 
tile  birth  of  the  carbon  filament 
incandescent  lamp,  and  the  ad- 
vent of  the  Nernst  lamp  may  be 
regarded  as  the  three  great  epochs 
m  the  annals  of  commercial  elec- 
tric lighting.  The  latter  and 
more  recent  of  the  trio  is  to  be 
regarded  as  a  means  of  filling 
the  gap  and  covering  the  field 
which  has  long  existed  between 
the  arc  and  incandescent  lamps 
in  electric  lighting. 
The  Nernst  lamp  is  the  result  of  an  invention  of  Dr. 
Walter  Nernst,  a  (German  physicist.  This  invention 
consists  in  using  as  a  light-giving  body  a  filament  of 
porcelain  composed  of  rare  earths,  which  is  maintained 
at  an  incandescent  temperature  in  the  open  air  by  the 
passage  through  it  of  an  electric  current.  Other  incan- 
descent filaments  burn  out  in  the  air  and  have  to  be 
surrounded  by  a  glass  globe  in  which  a  vacuum  is 
maintained.  The  filaments  used  in  the  lam])  are  also 
characterized  by  the  fact  that  at  ordinary  temperatures 
they  do  not  conduct  electricity,  and  nnist  be  heated  to 
a  red  heat  iiefore  they  will  transmit  the  current.  These 
differences  from  other  lamps  bring  about  other  require- 
ments which  altogLther  constitute  the  present  Nernst 
lamp. 

The  lamp  in  embryo  was  first  brought  to  the  attention 
of  Mr.  Geo.  Westinghouse  in  1897,  and  early  the  follow- 
ing year  Dr.  Nernst  came  to  East  Pittsburg,  at  Mr. 
Westinghouse's  request,  to  exhibit  the  invention.  Fore- 
seeing its  great  possibilities.  Mr.  Westinghouse  promptly 
midertook  its  commercial  development  and  introduction 
in  the  United  States.  Under  the  guidance  of  Mr.  Alex- 
ander  J.    Wnrt^.    Henry    Xoel    Potter   and    a    small    body 


128 


The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Hand- Book 


of  technical  experts,  the  experimental  work  was  at  once 
started  in  the  Westinghouse  Company's  shops,  and  in 
two  years'  time  the  work  of  development  brought  about 
a  practically  operating  and  economical  lamp. 

In  the  fall  <if  iqoi,  the  Nernst  Lamp  Company  was 
organized,  with  Mr.  W'estinghouse  as  President,  and  Mr. 
A.  J.  Wurts  as  Manager.  Shortly  afterwards  the  Com- 
pany took  up  its  quarters  in  the  present  five-story  fac- 
tory building  on  Garrison  Place  and  Fayette  St.,  Pitts- 
burg, and  the  commercial  production  and  sale  of  the 
lamp  began. 

The  building  occupies  a  ground  area  of  20,coo  square 
feet,  with  a  total  floor  area  of  101,000  square  feet.  This 
building  is  equipped  with  all  the  modern  conveniences 
of  an   up-to-date   factory,   including  the   advanced   ideas 


Ni-r/!st  Lamp  Compaux  I2g 

for  the  welfare  of  the  employees.  Thirteen  District 
Offices  have  been  established  in  the  principal  cities,  in- 
suring prompt  attention  to  the  customers"  needs  in  any 
part  of  the  United  States. 

With  units  varying  in  size  and  light  intensity  from 
20  to  500  candle  power,  the  Nernst  lamp  is  adapted 
to  almost  every  class  of  service,  both  interior  and  ex- 
terior. The  following  is  a  list  of  the  Company's  present 
product,  together  with  the  respective  light  intensities 
of  the  different  units: 


Nernst  La.mps  Intensity 


Six-glower  Lamp;  Indoor,  220  volt  type 500  C.  P. 

Six-glower  Lamp:  Outdoor.  220  volt  tvpe ...  .  500 

Three-glower  Lamp;  Iiuldnr.  220  xnh  tvpe..  200 

Three-glower  Lamp;  t  )utdo()r,  220  xolt  tvjje.  .  200 

Two-glower  Lamp;  Indixir,  220  \(ilt  t\i)e.  ...  125 

Two-glower  Lam]i:  ( )utd(>or.  220  volt  tvpe..  125 
Single-gK)wer  Laiii]);  liulixir,  220  \cilt.  88 

watt  type 50 

Single-glower  Lami);  ( )utdiiiir,  110  volt.  88 

watt  type 50 

Single-glower  Lamp;  Iiuluor,   110  xolt,  88 

watt  type 50 

Single-glower  Lamp;  ( )utcln(ir.  iio\(ilt,88 

watt  type ;o 

55  watt.  Indoor  220  xolt  tyjie 25 

44  watt,  Indoor  1 10  volt  type 20 


These  units  are  su])i)licd  with  globes  and  shades  of 
various  styles  to  --uit  different  conditions,  and  may  be 
operated  on  alternating  current  circuits  of  any  conuiier- 
cial  frequency. 

The  first  public  demonstration  of  the  Xernst  lamp 
was  made  at  the  Buffalo  Exposition  in  igoi.  the  interior 
i)f   till'    dome   of   the    Electricity    F>uil(linL;    being    illumin- 


IJO  The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Hand-Buok 

ated  with  six-glower  lamps  in  festoons.  Six  months 
prior  to  this  time,  however,  a  number  of  trial  installa- 
tions had  been  successfully  operated.  Since  that  time, 
the  growth  of  the  Nernst  lamp  industry  has  been  steady 
and  sure.  By  virtue  of  its  many  superior  characteristics, 
the  lamp  has  been  extensively  adopted  throughout  the 
country,  and  is  now  generally  recognized  as  an  impor- 
tant factor  in  commercial  electric  lighting. 

In  addition  to  the  Company's  exhibits  in  the  Machinery 
and  Electricity  Buildings,  the  lighting  of  the  Illinois 
State  Building,  the  Brazilian  Building  and  numerous 
concessions  on  the  Pike,  as  well  as  private  exhibits  at 
the  St.  Louis  Exposition,  one  of  the  special  applications 
of  the  Nernst  lamp  is  commercially  demonstrated  in  the 
lighting  of  the  Art  Palaces;  a  total  of  4,780  glower 
units  being  used  for  this  purpose. 


Nenist  Lamp  Compan-i 


131 


<^'^' 


View  of  Xernst  Lamp  Company's  Works 

Aside  from  tlie  World's  Fair  installations,  the  Com- 
pany has  placed  in  service  thronghout  the  United  States 
64.216  Nernst  lamps  of  different  types  ;  making  a  total 
of  over  130,000  glowers  in  service. 

The  beautiful  sunlight  quality  of  the  light  is  one  of 
the  distinguishing  features  of  the  lamp.  Its  efficiency 
is  equal  to  that  of  the  liest  modern  arc  lamps  and  is 
twice  that  of  the  ordinary  incandescent  electric  lamps. 

When  operated  in  accordance  with  the  recommenda- 
tions of  the  manufacturers,  the  cost  of  maintaining 
Xernst  lamps  is  practically  the  same  as  for  other  elec- 
tric illuminants.  The  Company  is  prepared  to  furnish 
lamps  in  large  quantities,  a  sufficient  stock  being  kept 
on  hand  to  insure  prompt  delivery. 


R.  D.  Nut  tall  Company 


I  HAT  is  claimed  to  be  the  largest 
and  most  completely  equipped 
gear  cutting  establishment  in 
the  I'nited  States,  if  not  in  the 
world,  Pittsburg  has  in  the  R. 
1).  Xuttall  Co  It  enjoys  all 
the  necessary  facilities  for  the 
manufacture  of  gearing  of  every 
description,  and  in  fact  every- 
thing that  can  be  classed  as 
■■  gearing '' ;  a  special  depart- 
ment in  these  extensive  works 
being  also  devoted  to  the  manu- 
facture of  trolleys  for  every  electric  haulage  service. 

The  premises  they  occupy  have  a  tloor  surface  of 
75,000  square  feet,  one  portion  being  a  six-story  struc- 
ture, while  the  powerful  machinery  used  in  cutting 
heavy  gears  is  housed  in  a  one-story  extension,  lofty  and 
roomy  so  as  to  insure  abundant  light. 

The  various  shops  are  equipped  with  the  latest  ma- 
chines and  tools  for  the  production  of  "  cut  "  gears,  to 
which  the  company's  exclusive  attention  is  given,  much 
of  the  machinery  employed  being  of  a  special  character. 
.\mong  these  machines  is  a  large  gear  cutter,  a  unique 
machine  with  few  if  any  equals  in  capacity,  capable  of 
cutting  spur  gears  up  to  thirty  feet  in  diameter  by  sixty 
inch  face  and,  with  some  minor  changes,  it  can  be 
adjusted  to  cut  gears  of  any  diameter,  limited  only  by 
the  available  floor  space.  Other  special  tools  include 
machines  for  cutting  worm  gears  up  to  72  inches  in 
diameter,  spiral  gear  machines  for  spirals  up  to  fifty- 
two  inches  in  diameter,  and  machines  for  turning  out 
interna!  gears  and  racks. 

The  entire  plant  is  electrically  operated,  power  being 
furnished  by  four  125  HP  Westinghouse  three-cylin- 
der gas  engines,  direct  comiected  to  electric  generators. 


'/'//('  Pittsburg  Electrical  Hand- Book 


View  in  Gear  Cutting  Department 


and  1-85  belted  gas  engine,  all  using  natural  gas. 
Various  tools  have  their  own  motors  and  the  principal 
shops  are  divided  into  electrical  sections.  Many  tools 
are  also  equipped  with  a  variable  speed  countershaft. 

Through  the  center  of  the  shops  in  which  large  work 
is  handled,  tracks  are  laid  down  on  which  cars  are  run, 
carrying  material  from  one  machine  to  another  through 
the  different  steps  of  manufacture.  The  main  aisle  of 
the  heavy  gear  department  is  also  equipped  with  a  20- 
ton  electric  crane,  and  the  motor  gear  aisle  is  equipped 
with   pneumatic  hoists. 

In  addition  to  special  machines  which  have  been  men- 
tioned there  are  upwards  of  100  gear  cutting  machines 
employed  in  the  works,  besides  a  full  complement  of 
auxiliary  machines,  drill  presses,  forging  presses,  etc. 

On  the  main  floor  of  the  works  are  located  the  heavy 
gear,  motor  gear  and  pinion,  smithing  and  gorging  de- 
partments. A  view  of  the  aisle  in  the  former,  which  is 
equipped  with  the  most  powerful  machines  for  cutting 
gears,   is   shown   elsewhere. 


R.  D.  Xuttdll  CoKpd/i\ 


135 


The  motor  gear  department  is  one  of  the  most  inter- 
esting in  the  works.  All  machines  in  this  department 
are  suppHed  with  lul)ricant  hy  pipes  leading  from  a 
single  pnmp  and  their  drainage  is  accomplished  in  a 
similar  manner. 

The  trolley  mannfactnring  department  handles  an- 
other very  important  branch  of  the  company's  business. 
Here  are  manufactured  and  assembled  trolleys  for  street 
railway  work,  mine  and  indu^trial  haulage,  locomotives, 
etc.,  and  this  may  be  regarded  as  an  important  adjunct 
to  the  company's  immense  business  in  motor  gears. 

On  the  third  floor  is  located  the  fully  equipped  pat- 
tern department,  and  on  the  fourth  floor  are  accommo- 
dations for  the  storage  of  patterns,  the  company's  list 
covering  more  than  6,cco  of  every  conceivable  type. 

The  fifth  floor  is  used  for  machining  material  for 
small  gears,  and  tool  making,  and  on  the  sixth  floor  is 
located   the   small   gear  cutting  department. 

The  works  employ  an  average  of  two  hundred  men, 
nearly    all    skilled    mechanics. 


.\    I'fw  (icar  (iitlin.i:   Machines 


Standard  Underground  Cable  Co. 


|HE  Standard  Underground  Cable 
Company  was  organized  in  the 
City  of  Pittsburg,  1882.  by  Mr. 
Richard  S.  Waring,  whose  later 
interest  in  the  Fowler-Waring 
Co..  of  England,  gave  his  name 
to  that  Company.  The  Standard 
"^Bi^--!^^  Underground  Cable  Co.,  from  its 

^B4^^  ■^^  beginning,  has  been  properly  re- 
^^^^fi^^l^V  garded  as  a  Pittsburg  corpora- 
'^^^i^^Jfr'^  tion,  since  its  Directors  and  Offi- 

cers,    from     its    inception,    have 
been    connected    with    prominent 
connnercial,   manufacturing  and   banking   interests. 

It  was  the  pioneer  American  manufacturer  to  produce 
lead-covered  cables  for  transmission  of  electricity,  and 
it  has  also  led  the  way  in  many  important  developments 
which  have  now  come  to  be  looked  upon  as  essential 
manufacturing  and  trade  methods;  such,  for  instance,  as 
the  application  of  the  lead  sheath  to  the  cable  core  by 
means  of  the  hydraulic  press,  the  application  of  tin  to 
the  lead  sheath  in  the  form  of  a  coating;  the  manufac- 
ture of  the  approximately  flat  or  duplex  type  of  cable  ; 
and  the  installing  and  guaranteeing  of  its  cables  under 
working  conditions. 

It  was  also  the  pioneer  American  manufacturer  to 
issue  a  hand-book  of  technical  information  dealing  with 
subjects  allied  to  cable  manufacture  and  installation. 
such  as  temperature  rise  in  underground  cables. —  forma- 
tion, weights  and  resistance  of  copper  strands,- —  "  Skin 
effects"  with  alternating  currents, — electrostatic  capacity 
and  insulation  resistance  for  varying  materials  and  sizes 
of  conductors, —  preventive  measures  against  damage  to 
lead  sheaths  by  electrolysis, —  and  field  and  laboratory 
methods  of  testing  for  conductivity,  electrostatic  capac- 


Standard  Uiidergrou/id  Cable  Co.  ijj 

ity.  faults,  etc.  Tliis  "  Hand-lxiok  "  contains  not  only 
much  information  along  the  lines  mentioned,  but  in- 
cludes detailed  information  as  to  descriptions  of  the 
varied  output  of  the  Company,  including  such  miscella- 
neous accessories  as  are  needed  in  connection  with  bare 
and  insulated  wire  and  cable  installation,  as  also  detailed 
working  directions  for  placing,  splicing  and  connecting 
electric  cables.  Tt  has.  for  many  years,  been  a  recog- 
nized standard  of  the  trade  and  has  literally  a  world- 
wide circulation. 


.3-0  B.  &  S.  G.  Triplex  Cable  for  interborough  Rapid  Transit 
and  Manhattan  Ry.  N.  Y.     111,000  Volts  Service) 

The  regular  output  of  the  diuipauy  i--  nut  confined  to 
cables  for  underground  u^e  miIcIv,  but  includes  copper 
rods,  also  wire  and  cables,  both  bare  and  insulated  in  all 
styles  suitable  for  use  as  conductors  of  electricity. 

This  Company  operates  at  Pittsburg.  Pa..  Factory 
N'i>.  I,  its  original  plant  (now  greatly  rnl;irged  .and  re- 
ecpiipped  )  for  the  inanufiicture  of  magnet  wire,  weather- 
pnxif  wire  and  r;ible.  .'ind  tibri'  and  p;ii)er  insulated  lead- 


f^8 


The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Hiuid-Book 


covered  cables  of  all  kinds.  At  Pittsburg  is  also  located 
the  machiiie  shops  for  the  manufacture  of  wire  and 
cable-making  machinery,  terminals,  junction  boxes, 
lightning  arresters  and  accessories.  Here  is  located  the 
general  laboratory  in  which  extensive  experimental 
work  is  conducted  to  determine  the  availability  of  differ- 
ent dielectrics  and  insulating  compounds,  and  to  note 
the  efifect  of  high  voltage  strains  wdien  applied  to  such 
dielectrics  under  different  conditions.  The  apparatus 
in  place  is  regularly  used  up  to  60,000  volts  and  an  ad- 


1,000,000  C.  M.  Concentric  Cable  with  Three  Pairs  of 
Pressure  Wires.     (Low  Voltage  Service) 

ditional  equipment  for  testing  up  to  loo.oco  volts,  with 
a  capacity  of  125  kilowatts,  is  n.ow  in  process  of  con- 
struction. While  not  overlooking  the  practical  or  com- 
mercial fide  of  laboratory  work,  special  attention  has 
always  been  devoted  to  research  and  experiment  in  ad- 
vance of  the  current  commercial  practice. 

Factory  No.  2  is  situated  at  Oakland.  Cab.  and  is 
equipped  for  insulating,  papering,  braiding  and  lead- 
covering  cables,  and  for  thoroughly  testing  the  output 
of  the   factorv. 


Standard  Underground  Cable  Co. 


^39 


The  principal  factories  (Xos.  3,  4  and  5)  are  located 
on  the  outskirts  of  New  York  harbor  at  Perth  Amboy, 
N.  J.,  and  are  in  direct  connection  via  trunk  line  ser- 
vice and  also  by  deep  water  transportation,  with  New 
York  and  other  shipping  points  for  home  and  export 
trade.  Here  are  operated  the  Rod  Rolling  Mills,  Wire 
Drawing  Mills.  Weatherproof  Factory,  and  factories 
for  making  rublier  insulated  wires  and  cables,  both 
leaded  and  un-leaded,  and  also  fibre  and  paper  insulated 
lead-covered  cables,   for  any   service. 


Duplex  Cable  (2.20(1  Volts  Service) 

The  aggregate  floor  s])ace  of  the  combined  factories 
is  about  seven  acres  or  300,000  square  feet,  not  includ- 
ing tracks,  sidings  and  storage  yards,  which  aggregate 
about   as    much    more. 

.\^  ty])ical  of  the  cla^s  of  in>tallations  made  by  this 
company,  may  be  mentioned  the  following:  Minnesota 
Brush  Co.  (now  Minneapolis  Gen,  Elec.  Co.),  Min- 
neapolis, i8go;  Philadelphia  Traction  Co..  Philadelphia, 
during  1893-4-5,  -it  <t  c-ost  of  about  $950,000.00 :  the 
Independent  Elec.  Lt.  ;md  Pr.  Co..  San  Francisco,  dur- 
ing i8c;8;  Compania  Fxplotadora  de  las  Fuerzas, 
Hydro- Fk-ctricas   de   San   Ildefonso.   S.   A.,   of  the   City 


140 


The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Ha/ui-Book 


of  Mexico,  Mexico,  1901  (this  order  consistiiij;  of 
5-wire  low  voltage  and  3-wire  high  voltage  circuits, 
cables  protected  with  double  steel  tape  armor,  and  laid 
directly  in  the  earth)  ;  Cataract  Construction  Co.  and 
Niagara  Falls  Power  Co.,  Niagara  Falls.  N.  Y.,  the 
complete  telephone  cable  e(|uipnient  for  Kinloch  Tele- 
phone Co.,  St.  Louis;  Cuyahoga  Telephone  Co.,  Cleveland, 
O.;  Citizens'  Telephone  Co.,  Columbus,  O.;  Pittsburg  it 
Allegheny  Telephone  Co.,  Pittsburg,  Pa.;  Maryland  T.  &  T. 
Co..  Baltimore,  .Md.;  Rochester  Telephone  Co.,  Rochester, 
X.  v.;  Frontier  Telephone  Co.,  Buffalo,  N.  V.;  New 
Telephone  Co.,  Indianapolis,  Ind. 

Among  the  later  more  important  work,  may  be  men- 
tioned that  covering  upwards  of  $2,000,000  worth  of 
underground  cables  for  the  electrical  equipment  of  the 
Manhattan  Ry.  Co.,  New  York  City,  and  Interborough 
Rapid  Transit  Co.,  New  York  City ;  this  work  is  at 
present  in  progress,  but  is  expected  to  be  completed 
during  the  coming  season. 

The  gross  value  of  the  yearly  business  of  this  com- 
pany is  at  the  rate  of  approximately  $10,000,000  annu- 
ally, and  is  drawn  from  the  commercial  centers  of  all 
the  continents,  including  Japan  and  Korea  in  the  Far 
East :  from  the  valley  of  the  Yukon,  Alaska,  on  the 
north,  to  Puntas  Arenas,  South  America  (the  southern- 
most city  in  the  world),  on  the  south,  although  natur- 
ally the  largest  prtiportion  of  its  output  is  required  in 
tilling  domestic  orders. 


TRADE!  I  MARK 


Sterling  Famish  Company 


llTTSBURG  is  known  chieHy  for 
its  production  of  iron  and  steel, 
but  this  alone  does  not  make  all 
her  greatness.  Smaller  industries 
of  every  class,  with  specialists 
who  have  devoted  their  lives  to 
the  problems  involved,  may  be 
found  throughout  the  city  and 
the  adjacent  manufacturing  terri- 
tory. The  l)ringing  together  of 
these  various  industries  naturally 
contributes  to  the  bettering  of  all, 
for  the  reason  that  no  one  indus- 
try depends  upon  itself  alone,  but  the  manufacturers  of 
raw  materials  must  depend  upon  the  manufacturers  of 
finished  products,  and  the  manufacturers  of  finished 
products  upon  the  manufacturers  of  raw  materials,  for 
mutual  information  and  helj)  in  l)ringing  their  goods  to 
the  highest  degree  of  efficiency.  In  no  place  in  the  world 
can  this  be  done  better  than  in  Pittsburg,  and  this  is 
emphasized  in  the  products  of  the  Sterling  Varnish 
Companv.  whicli  for  more  than  ten  years  has  been  siip- 
l)lying  a  large  share  of  the  insulating  varnishes  used 
throughout  the  world. 

One  of  tlie  jjrincipal  limitations  in  tlu'  lifr  of  electric 
machinery  is  its  insulation.  No  matter  how  good  the 
design  or  how  efficient  the  apparatus,  it  is  useless  unless 
its  insulation  can  be  maintained  year  in  and  year  out. 
An  inefficient  machine  or  a  poor  regulating  machine 
having  good  insulation  is.  on  the  whole,  better  than  a 
machine  having  poor  insulation  and  possessing  the  other 
characteristics,  for  the  reason  that  the  cost  of  repairs 
and  the  loss  in  revenue  due  to  breakdowns  of  poor 
insulation  may  be  greater  than  the  extra  economy  gained 
by  high  efficiency. 

Previous   to    1890  or    1891    tlure   liad   apparently   been 


1 42  The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Hand-Book 

little  attempt  to  manufacture  varnishes  which  were 
specifically  intended  for  insulating  purposes.  About  this 
time  the  Westinghouse  Electric  &  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany took  up  the  problem  with  various  varnish  chemists, 
including  Mr.  Jame=  Todd,  of  the  Sterling  Varnish 
Company.  The  result  was  a  series  of  experiments  last- 
ing about  two  years,  carried  on  jointly  by  Mr.  Todd 
and  the  Westinghouse  Company.  The  final  result  at 
that  time  was  a  varnish,  known  as  the  "  Sterling  Extra 
Insulating  Varnish."  The  use  of  this  varnish  efltected 
a  decided  change  in  the  insulation  of  dynamo  electric 
machinery.  Through  its  use  the  percentage  of  mica 
formerly  used  began  to  be  reduced,  the  use  of  shellac 
with  its  troubles  due  to  brittleness,  etc.,  was  reduced 
to  a  minimum,  and  the  evolution  of  the  present  general 
type  of  insulation  in  the  form  of  treated  cloth?,  papers 
and  tapes  began. 

When  this  varnish  was  adapted  for  use,  neither  the 
Sterling  Varnish  Company  nor  the  Westinghouse  Com- 
pany, who  had  done  the  original  work,  considered  that 
the  experimental  work  was  complete.  Systematic  ex- 
perimental work  w-as  carried  on  by  the  Sterling  Varnish 
Company  looking  to  a  bettering  of  its  product,  and 
through  this  work  the  evolution  from  the  original  var- 
nish to  its  present  high  efificiency  was  accomplished. 
The  remarkable  increase  in  the  use  of  this  varnish, 
together  with  its  introduction  into  new  fields,  gave  the 
chemists  of  the  Sterling  Varnish  Company  constantly 
increased  facilities  for  observing  the  efifects  of  the  appli- 
cation of  the  varnish  and  for  studying  the  very  exacting 
requirements  which  are  imposed  on  insulating  varnishes. 
The  net  result  of  this  work  has  been  the  production  of 
various  classes  of  varnish  to  meet  the  new  demands 
which  are  constantly  brought  about  both  by  the  intro- 
duction of  electrical  machinery  into  new  fields  and  by 
the  constantly  increasing  demands  for  perfection  in  both 
the  new  and  the  old  apparatus. 

The  Sterling  Varnish  company,  as  a  company,  was 
incorporated   in    March,    1894,   as   a    Pennsj'lvania    State 


Sterling  Famish  Compa/is  14J 

Corporation,  with  a  capital  of  $20.oco.  and  the  original 
works  were  built  on  the  river  bank  below  Allegheny 
Ave.,  in  Allegheny  City.  The  various  changes  and  ad- 
vances made  by  the  company  from  that  time  to  the 
present  time  have  rapidly  increa.'^ed  the  investment  until 
now  its  capital  is  $1,000,000. 

Early  in  1896  a  conference  was  held  at  Schenectady 
between  certain  officials  of  the  General  Electric  Com- 
pany and  certain  men  representing  the  firm  of  Ludwig 
Lowe  &  Company,  Berlin,  Germany,  in  which  the  subject 
of  insulating  varnish  for  use  in  the  German  factory  was 
taken  up,  and  the  conclusions  arrived  at  were  that  the 
varnishes  made  by  the  Sterling  Varnish  Company  were 
superior  to  those  made  by  any  other  manufacturers  and 
that  Ludwig  Lowe  &  Company  should  adopt  these  var- 
nishes for  their  insulating  work. 

The  popularity  of  this  product  was  soon  as  pro- 
nounced in  Europe  as  in  America,  and  in  a  very  short 
time,  through  the  apparatus  manufactured  by  the  numer- 
ous large  firms  using  this  product  and  through  its  very 
general  use  by  operating  and  repair  men,  it  can  truly 
be  said  to  have  been  spread  around  the  world,  and  at 
the  present  time  the  Sterling  Varnish  Company's  prod- 
ucts are  found  in  practically  every  manufacturing  com- 
pany's shops  where  electrical  apparatus  is  manufactured 
or  repaired. 

Pittsburg  may  therefore  be  said  to  have  seen  the  be- 
ginning of  the  insulating  varnish  industry,  and  at  the 
present  time  the  largest  factory  in  the  world  devoted 
exclusively  to  this  class  of  work  is  found  in  Pittsburg, 
the  present  factory  of  the  Sterling  Varnish  Company 
being  located  on  the  banks  of  the  Ohio  River  a  short 
distance  below  the  city  proper. 

The  .-Xmerican  Inisiness  of  the  company  is  handled 
from  Pittsburg,  while  the  European  business  is  consol- 
idated under  the  management  of  Mr.  W.  S.  Sample  with 
headquarters  on  Brougham  Street.  Blackfriars  Road. 
Manchester.  England,  with  branch  houses  at  London, 
Hamburg,  .\ntwerp.  Havre.  Brussels  and  Genoa. 


144  ^''^'^  Pittsburg  Electrical  Hand-Book 

The  Sterling  \'arnisli  Company's  products  include: 

Sterling  Extra   Insulating   Varnish. 

Sterling  Elastic  Insulating  Varnish. 

Sterling  Extra  Black  Finishing  Varni-^h. 

Sterling  Black  Air  Drying  Varnish, 

Sterling  Black  Core  Plate  Varnish. 

Sterling  Black  Insulating  Paint 

and 
STERLING   BL.\CK   PL.\STIC   IXSl'L.ATOR. 


PITTSBURG  ELECTRICAL 
OPERATING  COMPANIES 


Pittsburg  Railways  Company 


ATA  on  the  origin  and  early  history 
of  the  street  railway  business  in 
Pittsburg  is  so  meagre  that  the 
historian  searching  for  detail  will 
find  himself  digging  in  barren 
soil.  No  attempt  has  been  made 
to  keep  an  accurate  record  of  the 
developments  in  this  field  which 
is  now  in  the  forefront  of  the 
march  of  American  progress.  To 
no  other  agency  is  so  much 
credit  due  for  the  rapid  spread 
of  population  and  the  growtii 
and  de\  elopment  (if  municipalities  in  this  country.  And 
yet  how  little  we  know  about  the  business. 

The  first  street  car  line  in  Pittsburg  of  wdiich  we  have 
any  record,  was  the  old  Citizens  Passenger  Railway, 
which  began  operations  in  1859.  The  Company  which 
operated  horse  cars  from  Penn  .\venue  and  St.  Clair 
Street  (6lh  Street)  to  Penn  Avenue  and  34th  Street. 
"the  forks  of  the  road,"  was  organized  by  the  father 
of  Murray  X'enier,  of  this  city,  whose  well  founded 
early  knowledj^e  of  tiie  street  railway  business  was 
actjuired  on  this  line.  Duriiij,'  the  Cival  War  the 
line  was  extended  from  34th  street  out  Butler  Street  to 
the  Allegheny  Cemetery  gate.  The  stables  and  car  barn 
occupy.ng  the  site  of  the  present  Butler  Street  station 
of   the    Pittsburg  Railways   Company. 

Ten  years  later  another  extension  was  built  from  34th 
Street  out  Penn  Avenue  to  East  Liberty.  This  was 
really  the  Ijeignning  of  the  street  railway  business  in 
Pittsburg  as  about  this  time  other  lines  were  projected 
and  built.  From  a  small  beginning  of  a  few  cars  and 
less  than  a  dozen  miles  of  track  the  business  has  stead- 
ily increased  until  there  is  now  in  operation  in  the 
Greater  Pittsburg  about  2.000  cars  and  almost  300  miles 
of  track. 


Pittsburg  Railzvasi  Compaus  I^y 

The  second  line  was  tlie  old  Pittsburg.  Oakland  and 
East  Liberty  road,  which  began  operations  in  the  earlj- 
seventies,  the  line  extending  from  4th  Avenue  and 
Market  Street  to  Soho.  then  to  Oakland  and  later  to 
East  Liberty.  Shortly  after  this  company  began  operat- 
ing its  cars  the  dreadful  "  Pink  Eve  "  epidemic  struck 
Pittsburg  and  practically  put  the  company  out  of  the 
business  by  crippling  all  the  motive  power.  Being  un- 
able to  get  horses  the  company  tried  the  old  steam 
running  motors  which  when  not  running  off  the  track 
so  scared  what  few  horses  that  were  left  on  the  streets 
and  the  passengers  who  rode  in  the  cars  that  the  "  dum- 
mies "  as  they  were  known,  were  soon  relegated  to  the 
scrap  lieap. 

About  tlie  time  the  old  Oakland  line  began  running 
the  Pittsburg,  Allegheny  and  Manchester,  the  Pitts- 
burg and  Birmingham,  the  Ormsley  short  line  and 
Pleasant  Valley  lines  were  built  and  put  into  operation. 
Conductors  were  unknown  in  those  days.  The  driver 
in  addition  to  looking  after  his  one  or  two  horses,  as 
the  case  may  have  been,  attended  to  the  collection  of 
fares  and  helped  persons  on  and  off  the  cars.  This 
was  before  the  days  of  the  fare  boxes,  when  passengers 
were  supposed  to  deposit  their  fare  in  a  box.  .\nd  when 
the  cars  turned  in,  the  drivers  had  to  also  turn  in  and 
clean  the  cars  after  watering,  feeding  and  bedding  the 
stock.  How  different  the  working  conditi<ins'  of  today. 
And  still  the  car  men  are  not  satisfied. 

To  Messrs.  P.  A.  B.  Widener  and  W.  L.  Elkins,  of 
Philadelphia,  and  their  associate  is  due  the  credit  for 
introducing  rapid  transit  in  Pittsburg.  In  iScS-  they 
acquired  a  controlling  interest  in  the  old  Pittsburg. 
Oakland  and  East  Liberty  horse  car  line  and  changed 
it  to  a  cable  road,  the  first  in  Pittsburg.  The  new  era 
in  the  street  car  business  began  mi  .Sc'i)teml)er  i_'th. 
i88y,  the  cable  line  extending  from  5th  Avenue  and 
Liberty  Street  tn  Shady  .\\enue.  East  End.  The  com- 
pany began  operation^  with  twenty  cars.  When  it  was 
seen    that   the  new   mf)tive   power  had   cut    the   time   of 


14^  The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Hafid-Book 

traveling  from  one  end  of  5th  Avenue  to  the  other  — 
only  five  miles  —  from  one  hour  and  three-quarters  to 
thirty  minutes  there  was  a  rush  of  down  town  people 
to  get  out  into  the  residence  districts.  There  was  a 
gratifying  growth  in  car  receipts.  In  1886  the  horse 
cars  carried  2,045,756  passengers.  In  the  third  year  of 
the  operation  of  the  cable  road  —  'go  —  these  figures  had 
increased  to  8,649.788. 

The  second  cable  line  was  that  of  the  Citizens  Com- 
pany on  Penn  Avenue  —  the  pioneer  horse  car  line  — 
which  began  operations  January  ist,  1889.  Then  came 
the  central  or  Wylie  Avenue  line,  February  24th.  1890. 
So  quickly  did  the  trolley  follow  the  cable  that  investors 
who  had  planned  and  were  about  to  supplant  horse 
power  with  steam  and  wire  rope,  hesitated.  It  did  not 
take  them  long  to  see  that  electricity  was  here  to  stay 
and  further  cable  construction  was  abandoned.  This 
was  particularly  true  of  the  Pittsburg  and  Birmingham 
line  which  was  purchased  by  the  Chambers  and  McKee 
syndicate.  The  contract  for  building  the  cable  road 
was  ju.-^t  al)out  to  be  awarded  but  the  syndicate  man- 
agers built  an  electric  road  instead. 

The  first  attempt  at  electric  traction  in  Pittsburg  was 
in  1888  when  a  line  was  constructed  from  south  13th 
and  Carson  Streets  to  Knoxville  Borough.  At  that  time 
the  only  way  of  reaching  the  south  side  hill  tops  was 
by  incline  or  roadway.  There  was  one  horse  car  line 
on  Mount  Oliver  but  the  owners  were  not  foolliardy 
enough  to  attempt  to  operate  cars  up  and  down  the  steep 
hills.  About  that  time  experiments  in  electric  traction 
were  being  made.  Residents  of  Knoxville  and  ]Mount 
Oliver  formed  a  company  to  run  cars  that  would  be 
propelled  by  electricity.  The  Daft  system  was  installed. 
To  the  query  as  to  the  feasibility  of  the  cars  climbing 
steep  grades  the  Daft  people  replied  they  "  Could  climb 
telegraph  poles."  And  they  were  right  —  the  cars  at- 
tempted to  climb  not  only  the  telegraph  poles,  but  every 
thing  else,  instead  of  staying  on  the  tracks,  conducting 
themselves  peaceably  and  orderly  as  a  well  regulated  car 


Pittsburg  Railzvays  Company 


I4g 


should.  A  ratchet  wheel  was  used  on  these  cars,  but 
they  were  not  a  success  and  after  a  number  of  spasmodic 
attempts  to  operate  the  road,  the  project  was  abandoned. 
Parts  of  this  construction  are  still  in  evidence. 

The  next  attempt  at  electric  traction  was  made  in  1889 
—  The  Observatory  Hill  Passens^er  Railway  in  Alle- 
gheny. The  trolley  was  hung  over  the  trolley  wire, 
there  being  no  trolley  poles  connecting  the  car  with  the 
wire  at  that  time.  This  line  was  fairly  successful.  On 
July  2,    1889.   it  was  purchased  by   the   Pleasant  Valley 


1869 


Passenger  Railway  Compmy  which  at  that  time  was 
controlled  by  W.  H.  Graham,  D.  F.  Henry  and  asso- 
ciates. They  changed  the  Pleasant  Valley  Road  into  an 
electric  line  and  operated  it  until  1897  when  they  sold  it 
to  the  United  'i'raction  Company. 

The  pioneer  successful  trolley  in  Pittsburg  was  the 
Second  Avenue  line,  which  began  operating  electric 
cars  between  Market  Street  and  4th  Avenue  and  Glen- 
wood,  in  March,  1890.  Other  roads  had  been  running 
cars  spasmodically  before  this,  but  the   Second  Avenue 


/JO  The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Haiid-Book 

line  wa.s  the  first  to  establi^li  and  maintain  regular 
schedules.  James  D.  Gallery,  the  able  president  of  the 
Pittsburg  Railways  Company,  was  the  active  aggressive 
spirit  in  the  Second  Avenue  line.  He  foresaw  the  revo- 
lution that  was  about  to  take  place  in  the  street  car 
business  and  quickly  put  his  company  in  shape  to  take 
advantage  of  it.  From  Glenwood  he  pushed  an  e.xten- 
sion  of  the  Second  Avenue  line  into  Homestead.  Brad- 
dock.  McKeesport,  Wilmerding,  East  Pittsburg  and 
other  Monongahela  River  towns.     The  flag  of  progres- 


^\ 

^, 

' 

f      "- 

j 

^^, 

i^^^===^=:^ 

1) 

sive  street  car  management  was  quickly  followed  by  a 
rush  of  travel,  and  the  inadequate  ecjuipment  of  that 
day  was  taxed  to  the  limit. 

Prior  to  the  organization  of  the  United  and  Consoli- 
dated Companies,  the  big  system  was  the  Duquesne, 
which  began  operations  May  i8th.  1891.  with  28  miles 
of  track.     This  is  now  part  of  the  Consolidated  system. 

Since  the  formation  of  the  Consolidated  and  the 
United  Systems,  lines  have  been  built  to  Charleroi,  Ve- 
rona, Duquesne  and  McKeesport. 


Pittsburg  Raihuass  Compans 


'51 


Tile  growth  of  the  street  railway  business  can  best 
be  illustrated  by  the  accompanying  diagrams,  which 
show  that  the  miles  of  track  increased  from  12  in  1869 
to  114  in  1890.  and  to  445  in  1904.  The  number  of 
passengers  carried  has  increased  to  over  160.000,000 
yearly. 


Allegheny  County  Light  Company 


|HE  Allegheny  County  Light  Com- 
pany was  incorporated  March 
6th,  1880,  with  a  capital  stock  of 
$90,000.  For  a  short  period  fol- 
low^ing  the  organization  of  the 
Company  its  apparatus  was  lo- 
cated in  various  parts  of  the  city. 
The  first  machine  installed  was  a 
40  Light  Brush  Arc  Machine  at 
the  former  works  of  the  West- 
inghouse  Machine  Company  on 
Liberty  Avenue  ;  another  one  was 
shortly  afterwards  placed  at  the 
plant  of  the  Union  Switch  &  Signal  Company,  at  that 
time  occupying  a  building  in  Garrison  Alley.  Another 
machine  was  operated  in  the  plant  of  the  Westinghouse 
Airbrake  Company  on  Robinson  Street,  Allegheny.  The 
old  Exposition  building  and  grounds,  in  Allegheny, 
were  also  lighted  by  similar  machines,  operated  on  the 
Exposition  grounds. 

The  first  permanent  station  of  the  Company  was  lo- 
cated on  Virgin  Alley  on  a  lot  50  x  90  ft.  An  old  build- 
ing standing  on  this  lot  was  remodeled  to  adapt  it  to  the 
requirements  of  the  Light  Company.  The  machinery  in- 
stalled in  this  building  consisted  of  Munroe  Boilers, 
Westinghouse  Standard  Engines  and  40  Light  Brush 
Arc  Machines. 

The  demand  for  arc  lights  increased  rapidly  from  the 
start,  until  within  a  short  time  10  of  the  40  Light  Ma- 
cnines  were  in  operation.  L'p  to  this  time  the  arc  light 
was  the  onlj'  electric  light  in  use.  The  first  incandescent 
light  was  used  in  1884:  current  for  this  purpose  w'as 
furnished  from  a  75  Light,  no  Volt,  D.  C.  Compound 
Wound  Brush  Machine.  This  first  incandescent  lighting 
service  in  Pittsburg  was  rendered  to  a  restaurant  and 
cafe  at  52^/4   Fifth   Avenue.     Just  as   in  the  case  of  arc 


Allegheny  Counts  Light  Company  ijj 

lighting,  the  demand  for  incandescent  lieht  increased 
very  rapidly,  and  it  became  necessary,  from  time  to  time, 
to  install  additional  machinery.  The  new  direct  current 
machines  were  manufactured  by  a  Pittsburg  concern  — 
the  Westinghouse  Company  —  and  had  a  capacity  of  500 
16  candle  power  lights  each,  at  the  voltage  of  no. 

In  1886  an  arc  light  plant  was  located  in  Allegheny, 
on  East  Diamond  Street,  to  supply  customers  in  that 
city  with  light.  This  plant  was  enlarged  within  a  year 
after  its  installation.  By  the  latter  part  of  1886  the  busi- 
ness of  the  Virgin  Alley  plant  had  increased  to  such  an 
extent  that  it  became  necessarv  to  enlarge  the  plant  very 
materially.  Additional  ground  was  purchased  and  a 
four-story  brick  and  iron  building  was  erected,  including 
the  old  plant  within  its  walls,  ,so  that  the  service  during 
the  time  of  construction  was  not  interrupted.  When 
the  building  was  completed,  it  was  equipped  with  new 
boilers  of  the  Heine  make,  and  2  Wetherill  Corliss  En- 
gines of  500  HP  each.  These  machines  were  placed  on 
the  first  floor  and  belted  to  the  line  shafting,  on  the  sec- 
ond floor,  from  which  the  generators  were  driven. 

Up  to  this  time  direct  current  was  used  for  both  arc 
and  incandescent  lighting.  In  1887  the  first  alternating 
current  Incandescent  Lighting  Dynamos  were  installed 
in  the  Virgin  Alley  plant.  These  machines  were  of  the 
Westinghouse  make  and  among  the  first  machines  of  this 
type  to  be  used  in  the  United  States.  The  capacity  of 
the  machines  was  1,000  lights  each.  Within  a  year  addi- 
tional alternating  current  machines  of  2,300  light  capacity 
each  were  put  in  operation,  illustrating,  by  this  great  in- 
crease in  capacity,  the  very  rapid  development  of  alter- 
nating current  work  even  at  this  early  period.  At  this 
time  all  the  liehting  was  commercial  except  that  of  the 
Monongahela  Wharf,  where  20  arc  lamps  had  been  oper- 
ated from  the  machine  installed  at  the  works  of  the 
Union  Switch  and  Signal  Companv  in  Garrison  .\lley, 
since  1881.  This  installation  had  been  made  to  demon- 
strate to  the  city  authorities  the  great  advantage  of  arc 
illumination  for  city  streets  over  the  gas  lamps  then  in 


/j^  The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Hand- Book 

use.  It  is  slated  tliat  tlii>  experinifnt  was  made-  at  tlie 
earnest  solicitation  of  a  steamboat  cai)tain  wlio  had  suf- 
fered great  losses,  in  loading  and  unloading  his  goods 
upon  the  wharf,  from  thieves  who  were  enabled  to  pur- 
sue their  \ocation  in  safety,  owing  to  the  po;ir  illumina- 
tion of  the  wharf.  It  was  not,  howe\'er.  until  many 
years  later  that  the  City  was  induced  to  adopt  arc  light- 
ing generally  on  its  streets.  The  Allegheny  plant  of  the 
Company  also  enjoyed  a  degree  of  prosperity  similar  to 
that  of  the  Pittsburg  plant.  Shortly  following  the  in- 
troduction of  the  alternating  current  system  in  the  Vir- 
gin Alley  plant,  six  alternating  machines  were  installed 
and  operated  with  great  success  in  Alleghen}'. 

The  advantages  of  lighting  by  means  of  electricity 
were  materially  recognized  in  Pittsburg  and  the  growth 
of  both  arc  and  incandescent  business  was  very  rapid. 
By  1892  the  number  of  incandescent  lamps  had  increased 
to  almost  40,000  and  of  the  arcs  to  over  1,000.  .Such  an 
increase  demanded  a  still  greater  enlargement  of  the 
Company's  nlant.  Further  expansion  on  Virgin  .\lley 
was  impossible  so  that  a  new  location  was  found,  and 
the  property  of  the  Bradley  Foundry  Company  on  Etna 
Street,  between  12th  and  1.3th  Streets,  was  purchased 
and  the  old  buildings  on  this  site  were  remodeled  to  suit 
the  needs  of  the  Light  Company. 

During  the  years  following,  up  to  1897.  the  estab- 
lished rate  of  growth  continued  until  still  further  en- 
largement became  necessary  and  the  present  buildings 
used  at  the  Thirteenth  Street  Station  were  erected. 

The  machinery  installed  in  the  new  station  consisted 
of  four  1500  KW  two-phase  A.  C.  Generators,  direct  con- 
nected to  X'ertical  Compound  W'estinghouse  Engines  of 
suitable  size.  These  machines  were  the  largest  built  by 
the  Westinghouse  Companv  up  to  that  time  for  central 
station  work,  and  it  may  be  added  that  they  are  still  in 
use.  .Additional  and  more  modern  machines  have  since 
been  built  and  installed  until  the  present  capacity  of 
this  plant  has  reached  9,000  kilowatts. 

Owing  to   the  limited   range  of  economic   distribution 


Jlieghe/is  Counts  Light  Conipam  Ijj 

of  current  durinp^  the  early  periods  of  electric  lighting 
industry,  many  central  stations  were  required  to  sup- 
ply the  needs  of  large  communities.  This  condition 
brought  about  the  organization  of  numerous  electric 
lighting  companies  in  Pittsburg  as  well  as  in  other  large 
centers.  The  first  of  these  was  the  Electric  Light  and 
Power  Company,  on  Diamond  Street.  This  Company 
was  chartered  July  i4tli.  i8(S2,  nnd  after  operating  for  a 
number  of  years,  its  entire  stock  was  sold  to  Mr.  George 
Westinghouse  in  1894,  but  shortly  thereafter  it  became  a 
part  of  the  Allegheny  County  Light  Company's  holdings. 
The  next  of  these  companies  to  be  organized  was  the 
Pittsburg  Light  Company  of  the  South  Side,  which  was 
incorporated  August  27th.  1885.  This  belonged  to  the 
Oliver  interests  and  after  a  limited  period  of  usefulness 
passed  into  the  control  of  the  Allegheny  County  Light 
Company,  during  the  early  part  of  1887.  The  most  for- 
midable competitor  of  the  .Alleghenv  County  Light  Com- 
pany was  the  East  End  Electric  Lijj:ht  Company,  in- 
corporated January  20th.  1886.  Sometime  prior  to  its 
incorporation  the  Company  placed  and  operated  a  5  arc 
light  machine  in  the  basement  of  a  confectionery  store 
at  6202  IV'nn  .A\enue  in  the  East  End.  After  a  \ery 
short  period  of  operation,  additional  machinery  was  in- 
stalled in  a  building  in  the  rear  of  this  store.  Part  of 
tliis  installation  was  for  incandescent  lighting,  the  d  rect 
current  at  no  volts  bein<T  used.  During  the  year  1887 
the  Company  adopted  the  Westinghouse  Alternating 
System  and  was  therefore  enabled  to  include  a  much 
larger  district  in  its  limits  than  had  been  possible  be- 
fore with  the  direct  current.  At  this  time  the  station 
was  moved  from  its  first  location  to  the  location  of  the 
present  East  End  Sub-station  at  Broad  and  Beatty 
Streets.  The  lines  of  the  Company  were  extended  from 
the  plant  throughout  some  of  the  best  residence  territory 
in  that  part  of  the  city. 

As  an  illustration  of  the  lack  of  information  on  the 
part  of  the  public  generally,  in  regard  to  electric  light- 
ing, it  is  said  that  the  Board  of  Directors  of  this  Com- 


Ij6  The  Pittsburg  Electrical  HanJ-Book 

pan\-  found  it  necessary  to  give  a  considerable  part  of 
their  time  to  explaining  the  merits  of  electric  lighting  to 
their  friends  and  neighbors  in  order  to  induce  them  to 
make  a  trial  of  the  new  light.  Among  the  first  patrons 
of  the  Company  to  use  electric  light  for  illuminating 
their  residences,  was  Mr.  Herman  Westinghouse.  who 
resided  in  Edgewood.  a  distance  by  the  lines,  of  almost 
five  miles  from  the  plant.  Atnong  others,  the  residences 
of  Mr.  George  Westinghouse  and  Mr.  H.  C.  Frick  were 
supplied  with  light  from  this  plant.  The  current  was 
distributed  at  a  pressure  uf  1,000  volts,  except  the  Edge- 
wood  circuit,  on  which  the  pressure  was  raised  by 
transformers  to  2,000  volts. 

There  was  considerable  rivalry  between  the  Allegheny 
County  Light  Company  and  the  East  End  Electric  Light 
Company,  especially  as  to  the  contracts  for  city 
lighting,  first  one  securing  the  contract  for  a  period  and 
then  the  other.  In  both  instances,  however,  the  suc- 
cessful Company  sublet  that  portion  of  its  territory, 
most  inconveniently  situated,  to  be  lighted  by  its  rival. 
Finally,  early  in  i8g6,  the  control  of  the  East  End 
Electric  Light  Company  passed  to  the  Allegheny  County 
Light  Company,  where  it  has  remained  ever  since.  The 
Central  Station  at  Broad  and  Beatty  Streets  was  subse- 
quently dismantled  and  a  Sub-station  was  established  in 
the  old  building,  current  beine  supplied  from  the  Cen- 
tral stations,  at  Thirteenth  Street  and  Glenwood. 

After  the  absorption  of  the  smaller  Companies  within 
the  limits  of  the  City,  the  territory  of  the  Allegheny 
County  Light  Companv  was  still  further  enlarged  by  se- 
curing control  of  various  light  and  power  companies 
which  had  been  operated  in  the  surrounding  suburban 
districts.  Among  the  first  of  such  companies  may  be 
mentioned  the  Rural  Electric  Light  Company  of  Wil- 
kinsburg.  which  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  County 
Light  Company  in  1898.  In  1902  the  territories  of  the 
Southern  Heat.  Light  and  Power  Company  and  the 
Monongahela  Light  Company  were  added  to  that  of  the 
Allegheny  Countv  Light  Company  and  in  1903.  the  Oak- 


Allegheny  Counts  Light  Company  ijj 

niont  and  Verona  Li^ht.  Heat  and  Power  Company, 
and  the  Ohio  Valley  Electric  Company  also  passed  into 
the  control  of  the  Allegheny  County  Light  Company. 
Each  of  these  Companies  had  operated  Central  Stations, 
some  of  which  have  been  remodeled  and  are  to-day  sup- 
plying current  to  parts  of  the  general  system.  Others 
were  dismantled  and  in  their  place  Sub-stations  were  es- 
tablished, the  Sub-stations  being  supplied  with  current 
from  the  large  Central  Stations  and  each  supplying  its 
own  district. 

The  great  industries  which  have  made  Pittsburg  a 
familiar  name  all  over  the  world,  have  brought  this  dis- 
trict such  wealth  that  the  amount  per  capita  is  nowhere 
exceeded  in  a  territory  of  like  dimensions.  These  in- 
dustries are  of  such  a  character  as  not  only  to  make  the 
use  of  electric  light  necessary,  during  the  daylight  hours, 
but  as  noted  have  provided  the  people  with  ample  means 
to  use  it. 

The  development  of  electric  light  and  power  business 
in  Pittsburg,  in  the  territory  of  the  Alleghenv  County 
Light  Company,  has  paralleled  closelv  the  development 
and  growth  of  the  industry  in  general  :  in  many  re- 
.spects  it  has  been  ahead  of  the  general  development. 
Many  of  the  first  machines  and  pieces  of  electrical  ap- 
paratus, which  were  originated  and  have  been  developed 
by  the  Westinghouse  interests,  were  first  installed  and 
given  practical  trial  in  one  or  more  of  the  pjants  of  this 
Company.  This  is  true  particularly  of  such  apparatus 
as  is  used  in  the  alternating  current  system.  The 
growth  of  this  Company  seems  all  tlie  mcire  remarkable 
when  the  size  of  the  first  machines  used  25  years  ago 
and  the  very  limited  field  supplied  with  current  from 
them  are  recalled  and  compared  with  the  machines  in 
operation  at  the  present  day,  and  with  vast  territory 
over  which  its  lines  are  extended.  This  territory  em- 
braces the  cities  of  Pittsburg,  Allegheny  and  McKees- 
port,  and  more  than  20  surrounding  and  contiguous  lx)r- 
oughs,  its  total  area  representing  something  over  100 
square  miles.     The  various  power  stations   operated  by 


^ss 


The  Pitt.^hurg  Electrical  Hand- Book 


it  feed  4CO.0C0  Incandescent  Lamps  (16  candle  power  or 
the  equivalent  thereof),  5.000  Arc  Lamps  and  6,000 
Horse  Power  of  Motors.  The  development  of  the  sys- 
tem, with  respect  to  the  use  of  electric  current,  for  vari- 
ous purposes,  is  hest  shown  bv  the  table  below  : 


I  NX  ANDES- 
CENT 

Lights 


1884 ■  75 

i8q4 50,000 

1904 1      400,000 


Ak( 

LlGHT^! 


400 
1,200 
5,000 


HP 

M(JT()K> 


100 
6,000 


Cejitral  District  and  Printi?ig 
Telegraph  Company 


X  the  light  of  the  present  day  the 
telephone  is  considered  as  a  ne- 
cessity in  even  the  smallest  towns 
and  hamlets.  How  indispensable 
then  must  the  telephone  be  to  a 
city  like  PittNbnrg.  which  is  di- 
vided by  natural  and  political 
biumdaries  into  numerous  dis- 
tricts, many  of  tbern  small  cities 
in  themselves.  Transportation  in 
a  rugged  district  such  as  makes 
up  and  surrounds  Pittsburg  is 
nece-sarily  slow  and  tedious,  and 
the  demand  for  in>tantancou>  conuu'uiication  of  thought 
by  the  telephone  is  coiiseiiuently  greatly  euhancetl.  This 
demand  for  telephone  service  has  been  met  by  the  Cen- 
tral District  and  Printing  Telegraph  Company,  who  arc 
the  licensees  of  the  American  Telephone  and  Telegraph 
Companj-  for  Western  Pennsylvania,  Eastern  Ohio  and 
Northern  West  Virginia.  It  is  interesting  to  note  that 
the  Central  District  &  Printing  Telegraph  Company  was 
originally  chartered  to  exploit  the  Gray  Printing  Tele- 
graph. Later,  when  the  telephone  was  invented  this 
company  secured  a  license  from  the  American  Tele- 
phone and  Telegraph  Company  to  operate  in  the  above 
mentioned   states. 

Although  telephone  service  was  started  in  Pittsburg 
something  over  twenty  years  ago  by  the  Bell  Telei)honc 
Company,  it  is  only  within  the  i)ast  ten  years  that  the 
great  advantages  of  the  teleiihone  were  realized  by 
the  public  and  the  growth  in  the  nunilur  of  subscriber^ 
during  this  period  has  consequently  been  phenomenally 
great.  To-day  the  Central  District  &  Priming  Tele- 
graph   Company    operates     two    lnni(b\-(l    and    two    ex- 


i6o 


The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Hand- Book 


changes,  to  which  are  connected  sixty-three  thousand 
stibscribers.  Of  this  number  about  thirty-five  thousand 
are  included  in  what  is  commonly  known  as  the  Pitts- 
burg District,  which  may  be  defined  as  the  territory 
included  in  a  circle  struck  with  a  fifteen-mile  radius 
from  the  point  at  the  intersection  of  the  Monongahela 
and  Allegheny  rivers.  This  company  also  operates  four 
thousand  miles  of  toll  line,  connecting  the  various  cities 
of  Western  Pennsylvania,  Eastern  Ohio  and  Northern 
West  Virginia,  thus  furnishing  a  rapid  means  of  com- 
munication between  all  of  the  immense  industries  of 
these  districts.  In  addition  to  their  own  toll  lines, 
the  Central  District  &  Printing  Telegraph  Company 
also  connects  with  the  long-distance  lines  of  the  Ameri- 
can Telephone  and  Telegraph  Company,  so  that  any 
subscriber  in  this  territory  can  talk  with  any  of  the 
two  million  subscribers  of  the  Bell  System  in  the  United 
States. 

One  of  the  secrets  of  success  of  the  great  steel  in- 
dustries of  Pittsburg,  has  been  their  readiness  to  discard 
old    methods    and    machinery,    just    as    soon    as    it    was 


Detail  of  Central  Battery  Board 


Central  District  ':3'  Printing  Telegraph  Co.       i6l 


General  View  Central  Battery  Board 


denionslrated  that  better  methods  and  more  efficient 
macliinery  were  available.  Fortunately,  the  same  thing 
has  bc>;n  trrc  of  the  Central  District  &  Printing  Tele- 
graph Company.  But  a  few  years  ago  most  of  the 
exchanges  of  his  company  were  equipped  with  magneto 
switchboards,  the  best  of  their  kind  at  the  time  and 
capable  of  giving  fair  service  for  many  years  to  come. 
However,  the  invention  of  the  central  battery  lamp 
signal  switchboard  opened  up  a  way  of  furnishing  great 
cities  v»ith  the  rapid  and  efficient  service,  which  was 
necessary  to  keep  pace  with  the  increase  of  business  and 
the  growing  tendency  to  throw  more  and  more  work 
on  the  telephone. 

Realizing  the  many  advantages  to  he  obtained  from 
this  type  of  switchboard,  the  Central  District  &  Printing 
Telegraph  Company  discarded  their  magneto  apparatus 
and  re-equipped  all  of  their  Pittsburg  Exchanges  as 
well  as  many  of  the  exchanges  in  the  outside  district 
with  new  central   batterv  boards.     In   the  accompanying 


l62  The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Hand-Book 

illustrations  are  shown  views  of  one  of  the  most  recently 
installed  central  battery  boards.  This  switch-board  has 
a  capacity  for  ten  thousand  telephones  and  furnishes 
service  to  that  part  of  Pittsburg,  known  as  the  point. 
The  other  central  battery  exchanges  are  equipped  in  a 
similar  manner. 

So  intimately  is  the  telephone  becoming  associated 
with  all  the  every-day  affairs  of  business  and  social 
life  that  telephone  engineers  hardly  dare  to  predict 
how  great  its  future  may  be.  Development  studies  now 
being  made  of  the  Pittsburg  District  seem  to  indicate 
that  at  least  one  hundred  thousand  telephones  may  be 
expected  in  this  district  by  the  year  1920.  If  the  present 
rate  of  increase  keeps  up  the  total  number  of  sub- 
scribers in  1920  in  the  territory  of  the  Central  District 
&  Printing  Telegraph  Company  will  be  over  two 
hundred  thousand. 


SOME  NOTABLE  FEATURES 
OF     PITTSBURG 


m  Si 


0  s 
*^  o 

c  X 

c  n 

—  cu 

^  > 

1  9 
I  S 


Manufacture  of  Iron  and  Steel 


|KE  first  blast  furnace  that  paled 
the  sky  line  of  the  Pittsburg 
I'.ills  was  blown  in  during  the 
vc-ar  I7Q2,  and  by  tlie  year  t8l2 
the  manufacture  uf  iron  was  pretty 
well  established.  When  later, 
ii"(in  tire  of  an  extremely  high 
grade  was  discovered  in  the  Lake 
Superior  district,  the  local  deposits 

,i  of  ore  in  Pennsylvania  gradually 

■***■  ceased  to  be  worked;  and  today 

practically  all  of  the  ore  used 
in  the  Pittsburg  district—millions 
of  tons  conies  from  the  upper  lake  region,  800  miles 
away.  That  the  smelting  should  take  place  so  far 
from  the  deposit  of  ore  may  seem  strange,  but  it  is 
largely  due  to  the  superabundance  of  rich  steaming  and 
coking  coal  in  the  Connellsville  district  adjacent  to 
Pittsburg.  And  it  is  because  of  this  fuel  that  the 
Pittsburg  district  today  produces  a  quantity  of  pig  iron 
which  is  one  quarter  of  all  that  is  made  in  the  United 
States,  and  one-half  as  much  as  is  made  in  all  England : 
over  one-third  of  all  the  steel  rails,  over  one-third  of  all 
the  steel  ingots  and  castings,  two-thirds  of  all  the  open 
hearth  steel  ingots,  one-half  of  all  the  crucible  steel, 
two-thirds  of  all  the  structural  steel  and  nearly  one- 
third  of  all  the  plate  steel. 

The  activity  required  in  producing  this  prodigious 
quantity  of  metal  is  Init  slightly  portended  by  the  great 
cloud  of  smoke  that  lies  over  the  city  by  day,  and  by 
the  fitful  flare  here  and  there  of  flames  in  the  valleys, 
for  Pittsburg  lies  in  valleys  cut  out  by  the  Allegheny 
and  Monongahela  rivers,  and  the  blast  furnaces  and 
mills  lie  close  to  the  water  front.  From  the  conflu- 
ence of  the  rivers,  along  up  the  Monongahela  are 
ranged  the  furnaces  of  the  Clinton  Iron  &  Steel  Co.,  on 


1 66  The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Hcifui-Book 

the  right  hand  bank  ;  a  mile  further,  the  plant  of  the 
Jones  &  Laughlin  Co.,  which  operates  six  large  fur- 
naces as  well  as  mills  for  structural  plate,  bar  and  sheet 
steel.  The  well  known  Carrie  furnaces  of  the  Car- 
negie Steel  Co.  are  on  the  left  bank  some  six  miles 
further  up  the  river  and  on  the  immediate  right  are  the 
world-famous  Homestead  mills.  Almost  directly  across 
from  them,  but  further  up  at  Braddock  on  the  left,  are 
the  Edgar  Thompson  furnaces  and  mills.  The  Du- 
quesne  furnaces  of  the  Carnegie  Steel  Co.  lie  a  mile  fur- 
ther up  the  river  on  the  right.  Numerous  mills  and 
furnaces  lie  along  the  Allegheny  River  as  well,  and 
along  the  Ohio,  which  is  formed  by  the  confluence  of 
the  Allegheny  and  Monongahela  rivers.  In  the  marvel- 
ous progress  of  the  last  century,  the  development  of  the 
iron  and  steel  industry  has  been  a  magnificent  succes- 
sion of  triumphs  over  material  difficulties.  Not  the 
least  of  these  is  the  evolution  of  the  blast  furnace  from 
a  small  stack  40  or  50  feet  high  with  a  capacity  of  100 
tons  per  day  to  a  monster  smelting  tower  rising  120 
feet  and  producing  800  tons  a  day.  Another  i  f  the 
solved  problems  is  the  speedy  handling  of  material  in 
the  course  of  its  manufacture,  worked  out  in  many  dif- 
ferent ways,  for  many  different  manufacturing  pro- 
cesses. In  its  solution  the  electric  motor  has  been 
applied  very  generally  and  its  use  in  that  way  may 
be  esteemed  one  of  the  triumphs  of  electrical  en- 
gineerinj^r. 

The  pig  iron  of  the  Pittsburg  district  is  refined  into 
various  shapes  quite  diversified,  as  the  steel  skeleton  of 
the  modern  "  skyscraper,"  the  massive  armor  plate  of  a 
battleship,  or  the  delicate  and  finely  tempered  watch 
spring  and  the  jeweler's  tiny  drill.  But  not  all  of  the 
material  is  worked  into  shape  in  Pittsburg,  and  it  is 
the  handling  of  the  metal  in  bulk  that  may  be  seen 
to    advantage. 

The  largest  group  of  blast  furnaces  in  the  Pittsburg 
district  is  to  be  found  at  the  Edgar  Thompson  Steel 
Works,  which  are  devoted  solely  to  the  manufacture  of 


Manufacture  of  Iron  and  Steel  i6j 

rails.  The  site  is  Braddock,  a  spot  memorable  for  the 
defeat  of  General  Braddock  by  the  Indians  in  1755.  At 
this  place  there  are  now  in  operation  nine  furnaces  pro- 
ducing sufficient  metal  to  make  2.200  tons  of  finished 
rails  each  day,  or  enough  to  lay  12^  miles  of  track  with 
the  heaviest  rails  that  are  made  —  100  pounds  to  the 
yard  —  an  output  more  than  sufficient  to  single-track 
the  United  States  from  ocean  to  ocean  within  the  year. 
Braddock  can  be  reached  by  the  Pennsylvania,  Baltimore 
&  Ohio,  and  the  Pittsburg  &  Lake  Erie  Railroads,  or 
by  electrical  cars  from  the  center  of  the  city.  Every 
stage  of  the  manufacture  of  rails  in  these  works  is  il- 
lu.strated  by  gigantic  object  lessons. 

One  of  the  most  potent  factors  in  the  development  of 
these  works  has  been  the  use  of  electricity.  A  modern 
central  station  now  distributes  electricity  to  the  various 
machines  formerly  driven  by  small  steam  engines.  In 
times  past  steam  was  supplied  through  long,  leaky  pipe 
lines,  the  loss  of  heat  by  radiation  was  great  and 
the  condensation  of  water  in  the  pipes  troublesome. 
Now  a  few  slender  threads  of  copper  replace  the  large 
and  cumbersome  steam  piping  and  at  the  end  of  the 
transmission  line  an  electric  motor  supplants  the  steam 
engine.  The  introduction  of  electricity  into  rail  mak- 
ing, and  the  substitution  of  the  motor  for  the  steam 
engine  are  largely  due  to  the  farsightedness  of  Mr. 
George  Westinghouse.  Without  adding  to  its  manu- 
facturing equipment,  the  Edgar  Thompson  Works  has 
greatly  increased  its  output  by  using  electricity  to  oper- 
ate the  various  metal  saws,  roll  tables,  runs,  roll  con- 
veyors and  cranes.  Two  paramount  reasons  have  gov- 
erned in  this  choice  —  reliability  in  service  and  the  in- 
creased output  which  has  been  accompanied  with  greatly 
decreased  labor  costs.  Ore  is  electrically  hoisted  to  the 
top  of  the  furnace,  the  metal  is  poured  from  the  metal 
cars  by  a  motor,  and  from  the  time  that  the  Bessemer 
ingot  enters  the  rail  mills,  it  is  handled  thereafter  en- 
tirely by  electricity.  It  is  conveyed  to  the  blooming 
mill   l)y   a    motor   drive,   cut   in   the   shears   l)y   a   motor, 


i68 


The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Hand- Book 


Electric  Locomotive  used  in  Hauling  Rails 


conveyed  to  the  re-heating  ovens  and  handled  in  its  in- 
tricate movements  through  the  various  rolls,  runs  and 
hot  saws  by  motors.  Everywhere  electricity  is  the  vital- 
izing force. 

Not  very  far  from  Braddock  on  the  opposite  shore  of 
the  Monongahela  is  the  famous  industrial  plant  created 
by  Andrew  Carnegie  —  the  Homestead  inills  of  the 
United  State?  Steel  Corporation.  Here  we  enter  the 
armor  plate  department  where  massive  steel  plates 
are  made  for  sheathing  the  battleships  of  America. 
Here  the  armor  for  the  Oregon,  Iowa,  Brooklyn  and 
Indiana  and  many  other  fighting  vessels  has  been 
wrought.  The  material  is  of  open  hearth  basic  steel 
cast  into  ingots  weighing  as  much  as  150  tons. 
which,  by  subsequent  heating  and  forging  in  hydraulic 
presses  of  mighty  power,  are  fashioned  into  ponderous 
plates. 

Homestead  is  likewise  the  center  of  tremendous  activ- 
ity in  the  manufacture  of  structural  steel.  There  is 
scarcely  a  "  skyscraper  "'  on  the  continent,  finished  or  in 
process  of  construction,  which  does  not  owe  its  steel 
structure  to  Pittsburg.  The  steel  beams  and  girders 
turned  out   from  these  mills  varv  in  length   from   six  to 


Manufacture  of  Iron  and  Steel 


i6g 


The  .\lotor-l)riven    Hloom  Carriagfe 


ninety  feet,  and  in  their  manufacture  J.ooo  men  and  tlie 
most  massive  and  ingenious  macliinery  coml)ine  to  make 
the  output  the  largest  of  its  kind  in  the  world  As  in 
the  lulgar  Thompson  plant,  tiie  machinery  a>  far  as 
possible  is  motor-driven  and  wherever  hand  labor  or 
the  steam  drive  can  be  replaced  it  has  given  way  to  the 
electric    motor. 

At  Homestead  also  are  vast  mill-,  for  the  making  of 
sheet  steel  for  all  purposes.  And  the  production  of 
structural  steel  here  and  at  other  mills  of  the  city 
proper,  is  of  prime  im])()rtance  in  the  Pittsburg  industry, 
representing  nearly  70  per  cent  of  tiie  entire  outjjut  of 
such  steel  in  the  United  States.  About  1.000,000  tons, 
34  per  cent  of  the  total  output  of  basic  open  hearth 
steel,  is  made  at  the  Homestead  mills.  Nearby  are  the 
Carrie  P)last  b'urnaces.  as  costly  and  a>  nearly  complete 


I~0  The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Hand-Book 

as  any  furnaces  in  the  United  States.  Here  are  seen 
all  the  latest  appliances  for  handling  ore  in  bulk,  the 
traveling  bridges  for  distributing  and  gathering  the  ore, 
car  dumpers  that  pick  up  a  thirty-ton  steel  car  with  its 
load  of  fifty  tons  and  invert  it  at  one  swing,  the  stock- 
yard bins,  as  well  as  weighing  devices  for  mixing  the 
burden  of  a   furnace. 

The  various  works  of  the  Carnegie  Steel  Company  are 
interconnected  by  railways  over  which  liquid  metal  for 
the  various  blast  furnaces  is  carried  for  miles  from  one 
plant  to  another. 

This  economic  measure,  necessitated  by  the  needs  of 
manufacturing,  has  led  to  the  establishment  of  hot 
metal  bridges  designed  for  carrying  the  heavy  metal 
cars.  They  are  so  protected  that  they  are  fire-proof  and 
an  accident  to  a  metal  car  will  not  endanger  their  in- 
tegrity, nor  be  a  menace  to  vessels  on  the  river,  nor  to 
persons  or  vehicles  passing  under  the  bridge.  The 
largest  of  these  bridges,  and  the  heaviest  in  the  world 
for  its  strength  of  span,  is  at  Rankin  and  reaches  from 
the  Carrie  furnaces  to  the  yards  at  the  Homestead  Steel 
Works. 

The  iron  and  steel  manufacturing  plants  of  the  Car- 
negie Steel  Company  in  the  Pittsburg  district  include 
39  blast  furnaces,  three  steel  works  with  eight 
Bessemer  converters,  and  88  open  hearth  furnaces, 
five  rolling  plants  with  34  mills,  an  armor- 
plate  works  and  a  forge  works  for  the  manufacture  of 
locomotive  and  car  axles  —  Cyclopean  works  worthy  of 
the  Homeric  archetype !  The  works  enumerated,  wnth 
the  improvements  under  way  and  completed,  will  have 
an  aggregate  capacity  of  3,430,000  tons  of  steel  per  an- 
num, equal  to  32.56  per  cent  of  the  production  of  the 
United  States,  12.65  per  cent  of  the  output  of  the  world, 
and  nearly  71  per  cent  of  that  of  Great  Britain,  meas- 
ured by  her  production  in  1899,  the  year  in  which  it  was 
heaviest. 

The  magnitude  of  the  steel  manufacturing  operations 
of  the  present  day,  in  and  about  Pittsburg,  may  be  ap- 


Manufacture  of  Iron  and  Steel  iji 

predated  from  the  fact  that  the  receipts  of  raw  material 
and  the  shipments  of  the  finished  product  of  the  three 
largest  Carnegie  works  aggregate  approximately  16.000,- 
000  tons,  which  about  equals  the  combined  tonnage 
handled  by  the  Missouri  Pacific,  Southern  Pacific  and 
Northern  Pacific  railways,  operating  13,000  miles  of 
track,  15C0  locomotives  and  50,000  cars.  In  the  mining, 
transportation  and  manufacturing  operations  the  com- 
pany provides  employment  for  about  50.000  persons,  and 
disburses  yearly  about  $50,000,000  to  its  operative  and 
administrative  forces.  The  amount  oi  business  trans- 
acted is  exceeded  by  few,  if  any,  commercial  organ- 
izations in  America  or  Europe. 

Out  of  the  depressed  steel  prices  in  the  early  '90s 
there  arose  a  necessity  for  handling  material  cheaply 
and  hence  cars  are  designed  and  built  of  steel  —  steel 
alone  has  the  required  strength  —  to  carry  burdens  of 
fifty  tons,  nearly  twice  the  former  and  usual  capacity. 
The  manufacture  of  these  cars  can  be  most  readily  in- 
spected at  the  plant  of  the  Pressed  Steel  Car  Company, 
on  Neville  Island  in  the  Ohio  River,  which  can  be 
reached  by  street  cars  from  the  city.  This  plant  can 
turn   out   100  finished   steel   cars  per   day. 

.•\t  Ambridge,  on  the  Fort  Wavne  Railroad  16  miles 
from  the  city,  may  be  seen  the  largest  bridge  building 
works  in  the  world,  which  have  just  been  erected  at 
that  point  by  the   .American   Bridge  Company. 


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Farmers'  Bank  Building 


The    Farmers'    Bank    Biiild'm^ 


|NE  (jf  the  features  in  Pittsburg 
which  is  most  characteristic  of 
its  business  section,  and  which 
in  a  way  shows  the  remarkable 
development  both  in  building 
construction  and  in  the  business 
^Ajj  -  ■    T"  'i  activity   of   the   city,   is   its    office 

[  (ni  'I  I  buildings.     There     was      nothing 

which  could  be  classed  as  an 
office  building  in  the  modern  sense 
until  the  construction,  about  iSgo, 
(jf  the  Westinghouse  Building, 
which  had  thick  walls  of  brick 
and  was  striking  at  the  time  of  its  construction  in  hav- 
ing the  unusual  height  of  nine  stories,  devoted  exclu- 
sively to  office  purposes.  Since  that  time  new  office 
buildings  have  gone  up  year  by  year  until  they  form  a 
characteristic  feature  of  the  down-town  portion  of  the 
city.  Some  of  these  buildings,  in  height  and  size  and 
elegance  of  appointment,  rival  any  which  have  ever 
been  constructed.  'Ihe  expansion  in  the  business  inter- 
ests of  Pittsburg  which  has  filled  these  buildings  with 
busy  offices  is  a  true  index  of  the  development  of  Pitts- 
burg as  a  business  and  industrial  center. 

One  of  the  most  striking  of  these  office  buildings  is 
the  Farmers'  Bank  Building. 

Fronting  one  hundred  and  twenty  feet  on  Fifth  Ave- 
nue by  one  hundred  and  twenty  feet  on  Wood  Street,  in 
the  very  center  of  the  business  section,  the  Farmers' 
Bank  Building  occupies  one  of  the  most  prominent 
sites  in  the  city.  It  stands  twenty-four  stories  above 
the  level  of  the  street  and  has  in  addition  a  basement 
and  sub-basement. 

In  excellence  of  material  and  construction,  and  in  ele- 
gance of  finish,  it  is  equalled  by  few  buildings  in  the 
countrv.      The  first  four  stories  are  constructed  of  white 


I"/ 4  The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Hand- Book 

marble,  the  remaining  stories  of  dark  brown  pressed 
brick  with  white  trimmings.  The  interior  is  finished  in 
mahogany  and  white  marble.  Every  room  has  outside 
windows  and  the  walls  are  decorated  in  light  colors, 
giving  abundance  of  light.  There  are  toilet  rooms  on 
every  floor  and  lavatories  in  every  office.  The  steam 
heating  apparatus  is  of  the  latest  and  best,  with  thermo- 
static control,  and  the  building  is  ventilated  by  means 
of  air  shafts  and  power  fans. 

Ten  hydraulic  elevators,  equipped  with  safety  devices 
and  run  with  duplicate  engines,  furnish  a  continuous 
service. 

The  first  floor  is  occupied  by  The  Farmers'  Deposit 
National  Bank,  and  by  store  rooms.  The  remaining 
floors  are  devoted  to  office  purposes.  On  the  mezzanine 
floor  under  the  banking  room  is  the  Safe  Deposit  Armor 
Plate  vault,  provided  with  reception  rooms,  coupon 
rooms  and  all  facilities  for  the  prompt  and  convenient 
conduct  of  business. 

The  building  is  lighted  throughout  by  Nernst  lamps, 
current  for  which  is  supplied  by  three  150  KW  and  one  75 
KW  two-phase  220-volt  Westinghouse  engine  type  alter- 
nators. This  building  is  the  first  of  its  kind  to  be  wholly 
illuminated  by  Nernst  lamps,  and  one  of  the  best  exam- 
ples of  an  alternating  current  isolated  plant  in  a  modern 
office  building. 


Frick  Building: 


The   Frick  Building 


|HE  Frick  Building,  said  to  be  the 
handsomest  office  building  in 
the  world,  is  located  at  Fifth 
Avenue  and  Grant  Street. 

It  rises  twenty-one  stories 
above  the  street  level  and  con- 
tinues three  stories  below.  The 
total  height  of  the  building, 
from  the  engine  room  floor  to 
the  roof,  is  265  feet.  The  build- 
ing is  of  the  best  type  of  steel 
construction  and  this  together 
with  the  outside  walls  of  gran- 
ite, insures  the  highest  type  of  physical  construction. 
Fine  Italian  marble  and  Honduras  mahogany  is  used 
exclusively  as  the  interior  finish.  All  metal  work  on 
the  main  floor,  including  windows  and  door  frames 
and  main  doors  to  banking  brokers'  rooms,  as  well  as 
the  elevator  grille  work  and  finish  of  elevator  cars,  the 
telephone  booths,  etc.,  all  located  on  this  floor,  are  of 
solid  bronze,  and  the  entire  efifect  is  one  of  surpassing 
beauty. 

The  offices  average  in  size  about  ^00  square  feet  and 
are  en  suite.  They  are  all  light  and  airy,  each  office 
having  two  outside  windows.  The  average  size  of  the 
windows  is  47  in.  x6i-}4  in.,  and  in  keeping  with  every 
detail  of  the  building,  the  glass  is  all  mirror  plate. 

The  building  contains  6,493,592  cubic  feet,  from  en- 
gine  room  floor  to  roof. 

The  passenger  elevators,  of  the  Otis  Hydraulic  type 
of  2,500  pounds  capacity  at  400  feet  per  minute,  furnish 
continuous  service  and  the  average  number  of  persons 
carried  from  8  a.  m.  until  6  p.  m.  is  about  28,000 ;  this 
fact  alone  is  indicative  of  the  "  bigness  "  in  every  de- 
tail of  this  building.  In  addition  to  the  ten  passenger 
elevators,  one    freight    elevator   and    several    direct    lifts. 


I  "J 8  The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Hand- Book 

complete  the  elevator  installation.  Hydraulic  power  is 
furnished  by  one  21  x  34  by  17x24  duplex  plunger  type 
pump,  and  as  auxiliaries  there  are  three  16  in.  x  25  in. 
by    14  in.  X  15  in.   slip   plunger  type  pumps. 

The  Power  Plant  comprises  five  300  HP  Babcock 
&  Wilcox  water  tube  boilers,  complete  with  Roney 
Stokers.  Slack  coal  is  used  and  is  dumped  into  hop- 
pers from  the  street  level  and  conducted  from  the  hop- 
pers to  the  boilers  by  gravity.  Four  250  HP  West- 
inghouse  Compound  Engines,  direct  connected  to  150 
KW  direct  current,  no-volt  Westinghouse  Gener- 
ators furnish  light  and  electric  power.  TwiS  45  KW 
motor  generator  sets  furnish  current  for  the  6 
glower  Nernst  lamps,  which  illuminate  the  main  corridor 
and  banking  and  brokers'  rooms  on  this  floor.  There 
are  about  9,000  lights  of  various  candle  power  installed. 
Two  refrigerating  plants  of  40  tons  each  in  capacity 
furnish  all  ice  used  in  the  Union  Club  and  in  the  Union 
Restaurant,  as  well  as  for  cooling  6,000  square  feet  of 
refrigerators  and  all  the  drinking  water.  Four  foun- 
tains on  each  floor  supply  specially  filtered  and  cooled 
water  for  drinking  purposes.  The  usual  quota  of 
smaller  machinery,  such  as  house  service  pumps,  of 
which  there  are  two  14  in.  x  8  in.  x  18  in.  of  the  duplex 
plunger  type,  and  boiler  feed  pumps,  of  the  same  type 
but  smaller:  the  small  air  pumps  for  the  thermostatic 
control  of  the  radiators ;  the  vacuum  pumps  for  the 
heating  system  ;  hot  water  heaters,  for  the  building  sup- 
ply :  air  pumps  for  the  elevator  pressure  tanks ;  am- 
monia and  brine  pumps ;  the  mechanical  ventilating 
system  for  the  restaurant :  are  all  contained  in  the 
engine  and  boiler  rooms  located  in  the  sub-basement 
and  all  furnish  their  portion  of  the  "  Thousand  and 
One  "  details  necessary  to  a  plant  of  this  size. 

There  is  also  installed  a  vacuum  system  for  the 
cleaning  of  the  636  rooms  and  this  vacuum  system  is 
absolute  in  its  cleanliness  and  besides  is  perfectly  san- 
itary. All  dust  is  collected  in  proper  reservoirs  con- 
nected to  this  system  and  located  in  the  engine  room. 


The    Frick   Building  lyg 

The  building  is  heated  by  direct  radiation.  Exhaust 
steam  is  used  and  the  supply  is  sufficient  at  all  time>, 
without  the  introduction  of  any  live  steam  whatever. 
The  vacuum  system  is  used  and  thermostatic  valves  on 
each  radiator,  connected  to  a  wall  thermostat  in  each 
room,  insure  an  equitable  temperature  in  each  room, 
through  the  wide  range  of  outside  temperature.  An 
average  of  from  two  to  two  and  one  half  pounds  back 
pressure,  with  a  vacuum  on  the  return  risers  of  about 
14   inches,   serves  to  circulate  the   steam  thoroughly. 

The  basement  floor  is  occupied  by  the  Union  Res- 
taurant and  The  Union  Safe  Deposit  Company.  The 
development  of  the  cafe  and  restaurant  rooms  is  in 
splendid  detail  and  in  keeping  with  the  general  tone  of 
the   building. 

Installed  in  the  Union  Safe  Deposit  Company's  rooms 
is  one  of  the  largest  and  safest  of  vaults,  made  of 
armor  plate.  The  vault  is  44  feet  long,  24  feet  wide 
and  8  feet  high  and  weighs  892,000  pounds.  The  front 
plates  are  9  ft.  6  in.  x  12  ft.  6  in. ;  bottom  plates  24  ft. 
6  in.  x9  ft.  6  in.:  side  plates  9  ft.  3  in.  x  15  ft.;  top 
plates  24  ft.  X  9  ft.  The  thickness  of  these  plates  is  6 
inches.  There  are  two  doors  to  this  vault,  of  tlie 
circular  pattern,  each  weighing  17  tons.  Safety  devices 
of  the  latest  practice  are  installed,  thus  making  this 
vault   absolutely   safe   from    any   agency   whatever. 

The  steel  for  the  first  pier  was  set  July  27th,  1901. 
and  in  less  than  eight  months  from  that  date,  tenants 
were  occupying  the  building. 

It  is  estimated  that  from  3,000  to  3,500  occupants  are 
in  the  various  rooms  during  business  hours. 


The  Phipps  Power  Bui/ding 


HE  Phipps  Power  Building  is  lo- 
cated in  Cecil  Way.  4th  Ward, 
Pittsburg,  and  occupies  a  ground 
space  100  X  loo-ft.  It  supplies 
light,  heat  ana  power  in  various 
forms  to  the  surrounding  group 
of  properties  owned  by  Mr. 
'•'^iP^^Wt^M  Henry  Phipps.     The  building  has 

^  a  capacity  of  three  1000  KW  gen- 

erators, each  driven  by  a  28X46X 
48    vertical    cross    compound    en- 
gine;    four    2i,'/2X2 — 28-in.x6i4x 
24-in.    three    cylinder    compound 
pressure  pumps  for  furnishing  hydraulic  elevator  pres- 
sure  at  850   lbs.   per   square    inch ;   and   7200   HP   high 
pressure  water  tube  boilers  with  chain  grate  stokers. 

The  generators  with  their  exciting  machines,  also 
the  elevator  pumps,  switchboard,  superintendent's  office, 
etc.,  are  located  on  the  first,  or  ground  floor,  about 
seven  feet  above  the  street,  which  is  well  out  of  danger 
from  high  water  in  this  vicinity.  The  boilers  are  lo- 
cated, 3600  HP  each,  on  the  second  and  third  floors, 
and  above  these  in  the  centre  of  the  building  is  a  coal 
storage  bin  of  1000  tons  capacity.  Coal  is  necessarily 
delivered  to  the  building  by  wagon,  as  no  track  ap- 
proach can  be  had.  The  building  contains  two  large 
vertical  pumps,  drawing  their  water  directly  from  the 
Allegheny  river  and  delivering  same  into  the  general 
distributing  system  at  150  lbs.  pressure.  There  is 
furthermore  an  artesian  well  in  the  building  for  supply- 
ing drinking  water  to  the  various   Phipps  properties. 

The  building  has  been  made  of  sufficient  height  to 
give  five  clear,  well  lighted  floors  for  renting  to  light 
manufacturers,  printers  and  others  requiring  space  of 
this  character.  The  upper  portion  of  the  building  is 
served  by  two  high  speed  hydraulic  passenger  elevators. 


The  Phipps  Pozvcr  Building 


i8i 


and  one  extremely  large  platform  10,000  lb.  capacity 
freight  elevator.  Two  chimneys  are  provided,  one  on 
either  side  of  the  building,  each  chimney  being  11  feet 
in  diameter  and  extending  to  a  height  of  254  feet  from 
the  level  of  Cecil  Way ;  the  chimneys  are  built  of 
plates  and  are  unlined.  Coal  elevating  and  conveying 
machinery  and  ash  handling  apparatus  are  in  duplicate, 
and  so  installed  that  a  wagon  of  coal  may  be  dumped 
through  the  grating  at  the  Cecil  Way  entrance,  and 
after  being  righted,  the  wagon  may  receive  from  an 
overhead   bin   a   load   of  ashes. 

The  entire  structure  is  very  substantially  built  of 
steel  frame  work  with  fire  proof  floors  and  walls ; 
foundations  are  carried  about  22  feet  below  the  level 
of  Cecil  Way  to  a  solid  stratum  of  river  gravel.  The 
coping  of  the  walls  is  approximately  160  feet  above 
Cecil    Way. 


Pa?'ks  and  Boulevards 


|HE  visitor  who  first  views  the 
city  of  Pittsluirg  in  its  con- 
gested down-town  business  dis- 
trict is  apt  to  form  an  erroneous 
impression  of  Pittsburg  as  a 
whole,  as  he  has  not  yit  seen 
the  weahh  of  natural  scenery, 
the  picturesque  surioundings 
and  the  points  of  beauty  in 
which  the  residence  district  and 
environs  literally  abound.  The 
topographical  formation  of  the 
city  is  exceptional  and  has  been 
the   controlling   factor   in   the   building  of   the  city. 

The  Monongahela  and  Allegheny  rivers,  by  their  con- 
fluence just  in  front  of  the  city,  form  the  Ohio.  These 
three  have  narrow  valleys,  which  on  either  side  are 
fringed  with  high  hills  or  precipitous  blufifs  some  4C0  or 
500  feet  in  height.  Along  the  river  banks  and  in  the 
tributary  valleys  are  the  various  factories  and  industrial 
works.  At  "  the  point  "  where  the  rivers  unite  is  an 
unsymmetrical  area  measuring  scarcely  more  than  a 
half  dozen  squares  in  one  direction  and  10  or  u  in  the 
other  in  which  the  business  interests  of  the  Pittsburg 
district  are  conducted.  Across  the  Allegheny  river 
lies  the  city  of  Allegheny  extending  back  from  the  river 
front  up  over  the  hills  where  are  found  magnificent 
residences,  the  beautiful  Riverview  Park  and  the 
Allegheny  Observatory. 

To  the  east  of  the  business  part  of  Pittsburg  lies  a 
rolling  plateau,  wdiere  once,  the  geologists  say,  flowed 
the  Monongahela.  The  Liberty  valley  with,  its  sur- 
rounding hills  is  the  principal  residence  portion.  On 
the  one  side  overlooking  the  Monongahela  river  is 
Schenley   Park   with    an   area   of  some   750  acres.     This 


Parks  and  Boulez'ards 


i8- 


park  was  donated  to  the  city  by  the  late  Mrs.  Mary  E. 
Schenley,  whose  ancestors  were  among  the  earliest  set- 
tltr-.  She  herself  was  a  native  of  the  city  although 
for  many  years  a  resident  of  London.  Ten  years  ago 
the  present  park  was  partly  farm  land  and  partly  hilly 
sides  and  deep  ravines,  but  with  characteristic  energy, 
armies  of  workmen  and  gardeners  under  the  super- 
vision of  engineers  were  set  to  work,  roads  were  built, 
bridges  were  constructed,  walks  wore  laid  and  gardens 
planted,  so  that  within  a  few  years  a  beautiful  park 
has  been  developed.  Near  the  entrance  to  the  park  is 
a  great  conservatory  presented  by  Mr.  Henry  Phipps, 
which  contains  an  array  of  floral  specimens  which  is 
said  to  be  unsurpassed. 

Far  away  across  the  Liberty  valley  lies  Highland 
Park.  .At  the  top  of  a  high  bluff  overlooking  the  Alle- 
gheny river  is  the  reservoir  sup])lie<l  from  the  pumping 
station  below  fur  the  water  service  of  the  city.  From 
this  height  a  view  up  the  Allegheny  river  is  most  beau- 
tiful. On  the  hill  sides  skirting  the  reservoir  summit 
are    drives    and    walks,    grovc'^    and    tlower    .gardens,    a 


1^4 


The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Haiid-Book 


picturesque  lake  and  the  zoological  garden,  a  gift  of  the 
late  C.  L.  Magee.  From  the  driveways  of  Highland 
Park  extends  Beechwood  Boulevard,  winding  through 
valleys  and  over  the  hilltops  four  or  five  miles  to  unite 
with  the  fourteen  miles  of  driveways  in  Schenley  Park. 
From  Schenley  Park  again  extends  the  Grant  Boule- 
vard reaching  to  the  down-town  section  of  the  city. 
These  excellent  macadamized  driveways  extending  be- 
tween city  and  parks  and  traversing  the  residence  por- 
tion of  the  city  are  making  this  the  City  Beautiful  as 
well  as  the  Smoky  City.  In  addition  there  are  a  num- 
ber of  small  park?  in  the  outlying  districts  of  the  city  in 
various  directions. 


Rail  and  River   Transportation 


HILE  the  lavish  hand  of  Nature 
lias  placed  within  the  hills  of 
Western  Pennsylvania  the  raw 
material  which  make  its  suprem- 
acy as  the  world's  greatest  in- 
dustrial center  a  possibility,  this 
fact  has  also  been  the  cause  of 
making  the  city  a  point  of  inter- 
est to  the  student  of  modern 
methods  of  traffic  and  transpor- 
tation. 

Four    hundred    and    fifty    pas- 
senger trains   leave   or   arrive   in 
Pittsburg   every    day.     It    is    in    freight   traffic    that    the 
position  of   Pittsburg   is  absolutely   unique. 

The  freight  created  in  the  Pittsburg  district  alone  and 
shipped  from  here  either  hy  rail  or  river  amounts  to 
about  80,000,000  tons  per  annum.  No  less  than  6,000 
freight  cars  are  loaded  daily  to  transport  its  freight  to 
all   parts  of  the   world. 

But  as  Pittsburg  is  also  a  large  railroad  distributing 
center  many  thousands  of  freight  cars  arrive  daily  from 
other  points  on  the  greater  trunk  lines,  to  be  distributed 
over  the  smaller  railroads.  Sixteen  railroads  converge 
here,  to  haul  away  the  tons  of  freight. 

It  i-  scarcely  possible  to  conceive  what  the  amount  of 
such  an  enormous  traffic  means,  hut  an  idea  may  be 
formed  when  it  is  considered  that  the  tonnage  of  the 
city  of  Pittsburg  exceeds  the  combined  tonnage  of  Lon- 
don, Liverpool  and  New  York  city. 

The  figures  of  Pittsburg's  tonnage  are  so  stupendous 
that  thev  are  hard  to  .i])])reciate ;  that  their  ac- 
curacy may  not  he  (|ue-tioned,  the  following  extract 
from  a  report  made  hy  a  committee  of  the  Pittsburg 
Chamber  of  Commerce,  December  i6th.  1901,  may  be  of 
interest.     This  report   was  made  by  men   standing  high 


j88  The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Hand-Book 

in  the  financial,  railroad,  manufacturing  and  commer- 
cial business  of  the  city.  They  had  been  appointed  to 
investigate  the  cause  of  the  lack  of  transportation  facil- 
ities afiforded  by  the  railroads,  etc.,  and  during  this  in- 
vestigation they  compiled  this   statement : 

"  Beginning  with  a  movement  of  freight  aggregating 
forty  million  tons  for  this  district  (excluding  all  freight 
in  transit)  seven  years  ago,  the  report  for  1900  showed 
an  aggregate  of  over  66,000,000  tons,  or,  to  be  more  ac- 
curate, 2,289,315  cars,  containing  57,005,465  tons,  were 
received  and  loaded  while  the  harbor  tonnage  of  Pitts- 
burg was  8,813,166,  aggregating  a  total  of  65,868,631 
tons.  For  the  year  1901,  about  to  close,  the  car  service 
shows  an  increase  of  10  per  cent  in  numbers,  and  con- 
sidering enlarged  capacity,  a  conservative  estimate  of 
increase  in  burden  would  amount  to  I2i^  per  cent  over 
that  of  1900.  Estimating  the  river  and  harbor  tonnage 
at  9,000,000,  2,500.000  cars  at  64.125.coo  tons,  you  have 
a  grand  total  in  tons  of  73,125,000  for  the  Pittsburg  dis- 
trict. While  the  railroads  handled  the  ascertained 
traffic  last  year  under  great  difficulties,  it  was  under- 
stood that  the  maximum  had  been  reached.  Instead  of 
this,  however,  an  additional  production  of  7,125,000  tons 
demanding  transportation,  made  it  impossible  to  move 
tlic  freight  promptly  with  the  equipment  in  cars  and 
motive   power   available." 

That  report  was  made  three  years  ago  and  the  growth 
in  the  business  of  Pittsburg  has  been  more  phenomenal 
than  ever,  the  figure  quoted  therefore  at  the  opening  of 
this  article  can  in  no  wise  be  considered  an  exagger- 
ation. 

The  river  traffic  of  Pittsburg,  besides  its  wonderful 
capacity,  represents  a  peculiar  feature  in  the  character 
of  the  craft  employed.  The  stern-wheel  steamboats 
which  ply  the  Monongahela,  Allegheny  and  Ohio  rivers, 
towing  heavy  loads,  astound  the  strangers  and  fill  the 
uninitiated  with  amazement.  The  river  traffic  is  made 
up  chiefly  of  coal  from  the  mines  along  the  Mononga- 
hela River,  which  is  loaded  into  barges  and  transported 


Rail  and  River  Transportation  i8<) 

down  the  Ohio  and  the  Mississippi  as  far  as  New  Or- 
leans. These  laden  barges  are  at  first  brought  into  the 
harbor  at  Pittsburg,  where  the  shipments  are  made  up. 
It  is  not  unusual  for  a  shipment  to  consist  of  50,000 
tons  of  coal,  loaded  in  eighteen  or  twenty  barges,  se- 
curely fastened  together  and  towed  down  the  river  by 
one  of  these  little  stern  wheel  steamers. 

This  trade  is  in  the  hands  of  coal  companies  who  own 
their  own  steamboats  and  barges,  the  largest  of  them 
being  the  Monongahela  River  Consolidated  Coal  & 
Coke  Co.,  which  operates  eighty  tow  boats,  6,000  coal 
barges,  fifty-six  coal  mines,  and  owns  40,000  acres  of 
unmined  coal.  During  1902  this  company  alone  pro- 
duced 7.000.000  tons  of  coal. 


Allegheny  Observatory 


T  .MAY  seem  odd  to  the  stranger 
that  Pittshurg,  with  her  smoke, 
should  be  the  home  of  one  of  the 
most  famous  Astronomical  Ob- 
servatories in  America.  But 
smoke  under  certain  conditions  is 
actually  beneficial,  acting  as  a 
damper  to  air  currents  which 
would  otherwise  destroy  the  even- 
ness of  atmosphere  and  conse- 
quent good  seeing.  This  locality 
is  particularly  suited  to  solar 
study  and  this  branch  has  always 
received  a  large  amount  of  attention  at  the  Allegheny 
Observatory.  The  old  observatory  located  on  the  top 
of  a  hill  overlooking  the  two  cities,  is  now  completely 
surrounded  by  buildings  and  is  about  to  be  abandoned 
so  far  as  its  uses  for  astronomical  purposes  are  con- 
cerned. 

It  was  in  this  old  building  that  Langley  carried  on 
his  wonderful  work  in  the  exploration  of  the  spectrum 
way  down  in  the  infra  red  by  means  of  his  sensitive 
instrument,  the  bolometer.  Here  also,  Langley  started 
his  work  on  aereonautics  and  concluded  a  large  part  of 
his  important  determinations.  It  was  in  this  same 
old  building  that  Keeler  took  his  wonderful  photo- 
graphs of  Saturn's  rings. 

The  new  observatory  is  located  one  and  one-half 
miles  to  the  northwest  of  the  old  one,  in  Riverview 
Park,  on  one  of  the  highest  points  of  ground  in  western 
Pennsylvania.  In  its  present  location  in  the  center  of  a 
public  park,  no  building  can  ever  come  near  enough  to 
interfere  with  its  efficient  operation. 

When  completed  and  fully  equipped  according  to  the 
plans  of  the  present  director  Prof.  F.  L.  O.  Wadsworth. 
it    will    be    one    of    the    most    perfect    observatories    in 


At'u'gheny  Oi?servatoryi  igi 

Ame;ica.  '1 1  is  I;)eautiful  institution  has  been  made  pos- 
sil)le  very  largely  through  the  energetic  efforts  of  Dr. 
John  A.  Brashear,  who  has  devoted  a  large  part  of 
his  time  and  energies  for  the  past  five  years  to  the  pro- 
curing of   frmds   for  it. 

The  building  has  three  domes,  the  largest  of  which 
is  to  accommodate  a  30-inch  refracting  telescope,  now 
being  built  by  the  John  A.  Brashear  Co.  In  the  north- 
east dome  the  Keeler  memorial,  a  30-inch  reflecting 
telescope  donated  by  the  many  Allegheny  and  Pittsburg 
friends  of  the  late  Dr.  Keeler,  is  now  being  put  in  place 
and  will  soon  be  ready  for  service.  In  the  southeast 
dome  will  be  mounted  the  13-inch  refracting  telescope 
moved  from  the  old  obser\atory.  It  is  expected  that 
this  dome  will  be  devoted  mostly  to  the  use  of  the 
public  under  the  supervision  of  a  competent  astronomer. 

The  observatory  has  supplied  the  time  to  the  two 
cities  and  the  Pennsylvania  railroad  for  a  number  of 
years. 


yohn  A.  Brashear  Co. 


SCIENTIFIC  work  shop  of 
world-wide  reputation,  known  for 
the  superiority  of  its  production, 
the  place  to  which  the  astron- 
omers and  physicists  of  the  world 
bring  their  rigid  specifications  for 
intricate,  yet  accurate  instru- 
ments ;  makers  of  the  most  per- 
fect optical  surfaces  ever  pro- 
duced, are  but  a  few  of  the  good 
things  that  can  be  said  of  the 
John  A.  Brashear  Co. 

Dr.  Brashear  started  his  optical 
work  as  an  amateur,  w-orking  at  night,  doing  his  polish- 
ing on  machines  of  his  own  make. 

He  was  a  mill  wright  at  the  time,  working  in  a 
rolling  mill,  and  his  optical  work  had  to  be  done  after 
the  long  day  of  toil  at  the  mill.  He  was  interested  in 
science  and  particularly  in  things  relating  to  astronomy. 
His  desire  to  see  and  study  Saturn's  rings  was  the  con- 
sideration that  started  him  at  work  on  his  first  re- 
flecting telescope. 

It  is  worthy  of  note  in  this  connection,  that  Dr. 
Keeler's  classic  work  on  Saturn  was  carried  on  with 
apparatus  largely  made  by  Dr.  Brashear. 

The  first  mirror  made  required  about  two  years"  time, 
only  to  be  broken  while  trying  to  silver  its  surface. 
The  one  following  it  was  completed  in  as  many  months. 
In  his  early  work  Dr.  Brashear  was  exceedingly  for- 
tunate in  having  a  wife  who  could  sympathize  with  him 
in  a  labor  of  such  proportions  and  with  no  great  mone- 
tary benefit  at  the  end.  She  frequently  attended  the 
engine  for  him  while  he  was  polishing,  and  later  did 
some  polishing  herself  that  was  exceedingly  creditable. 
Soon  after  Dr.  Brashear  started  his  "work  shop,"  as 
he  generally   calls   it,   Mr.   James   B.   McDowell   became 


John  A.  Br  ash  ear  Co. 


193 


Workshop  of  John  A.  Brashear  Co. 


associated  with  liim  and  has  been  a  most  able  assistant 
in  all  the  work  turned  ont  by  the  companj-. 

The  greater  part  of  the  work  is  optical  in  nature, 
though  a  certain  amount  of  machine  and  instrument 
making  is  done.  The  optical  parts  of  the  Warner  & 
Swasey  binoculars  are  made  in  this  shop.  Large  num- 
bers of  range  finder  telescopes  have  been  made  for  the 
government  in  the  past  few  years. 

In  addition  to  the  above  a  great  amount  of  special 
work  has  been  done  for  observatories  and  universities 
all  over  the  world. 

A  plane  surface  was  recentlv  completed  which  is  per- 
haps the  most  perfect  plane  of  its  size  in  existence. 
It  is  a  circular  surface  30  inches  in  diameter  and  no  part 
of  its  surface  varies  more  than  a  millionth  of  an  inch 
from  the  true  plane.  This  plane  i^  to  be  used  in  the 
.Mlegheny  Observatory  equipment. 

The  shop  is  located  in  AUe^dieny  at  the  corner  of 
Perrysville  Avenue,  this  street  making  an  abrupt  turn  at 
that  place.  Tliis  factory  can  he  reached  from  the  down 
town  district  of  Pittsburg  by  the  Kiverview  Park  cars.  Dr. 
Brasliear's  residence  is  located  near  the  shop. 


Caj'negie  Institute 


■*5^A' 


N  Xovember  the  15th,  1895,  Mr. 
Andrew  Carnegie  presented  to 
tlie  people  of  Pittsburg  a  build- 
ing erected  at  the  entrance  to 
Schenley  Park,  intended  to  pro- 
vide accommodations  for  a  great 
public  library,  coupled  with  which 
were  a  ]Music  Hall,  an  Art  Gal- 
lery, and  a  Museum.  The  edifice 
had  cost  the  generous  donor 
eight  hundred  thousand  dollars. 
Having  turned  the  building  over 
to  the  authorities  of  the  city, 
Mr.  Carnegie  announced  his  intention  of  providing  an 
endowment  fund  of  one  million  dollars,  the  annual  in- 
terest upon  which  was  to  be  applied  to  the  maintenance 
of  the  Art  Gallery  and  Museum.  The  administration 
of  the  Library  upon  the  terms  of  Mr.  Carnegie's  orig- 
inal gift  was  vested  in  a  Board  of  Trustees  consisting 
of  eighteen  persons,  nine  of  whom  represent  the  mu- 
nicipality through  its  constituted  authorities,  the  other 
nine  being  originally  nominated  by  Mr.  Carnegie  be- 
cause of  their  interest  in  literature,  art,  and  science 
and  their  public  spirit.  These  nine  have  the  privilege, 
in  case  of  the  death  or  resignation  of  any  of  their  num- 
ber, to  elect  a  successor.  When  ^Ir.  Carnegie  came  to 
the  act  of  endowing  the  Art  Gallery  and  the  Museum, 
he  nominated  a  Board  of  Trustees  consisting  of  thirty- 
six,  eighteen  of  whom  are  the  Trustees  of  the  Carnegie 
Library  ex  officio,  and  eighteen  of  whom  were  friends 
and  acquaintances  of  his.  whom  he  selected  because  of 
their  qualifications  for  the  administration  of  such  a 
trust.  These  eighteen  elect  their  own  successors.  The 
President  of  the  Board  from  the  inception  has  been  Mr. 
W.  N.  Frew,  the  Vice-President  ]\Ir.  Robert  Pitcairn, 
and    the    Secretary    Col.    S.    H.    Church.     The    present 


Ciir7iegie  Institute  ig^ 

Treasurer  is  Hon.  James  H.  Reed.  By  action  of  this 
Board  of  thirty-six  Trustees,  who  administer  the  en- 
dowment fund,  the  name  of  "  The  Carnegie  Institute  " 
was  chosen  to  designate  the  foundation. 

To  the  one  million  dollars  originally  given  as  an 
endowment  fund  for  the  Institute.  Mr.  Carnegie  added 
in  iQOi  another  million,  making  the  total  revenue  ap- 
plicable to  the  maintenance  of  the  Art  Gallery  and  the 
Museum  at  the  present  time  one  hundred  thousand 
dollars. 

Experience  showed,  shortly  after  the  original  building 
had  been  thrown  open  to  the  public,  that  it  was  not 
adequate  in  size  to  the  demands  which  were  being  made 
upon  all  its  departments  by  the  public.  Mr.  Carnegie 
therefore  authorized  plans  to  be  prepared  for  an  addi- 
tion, and  he  has.  as  the  result  of  conferences  with  his 
friends  in  the  Board  of  Trustees,  given  the  sum  of  five 
millions  of  dollars  for  the  purpose  of  enlarging  and 
remodeling  the  building  and  furnishing  it.  The  work 
of  erecting  this  addition,  which  vastly  exceeds  in  size 
the  original  building,  is  now  going  on.  and  contracts 
aggregating  nearly  three  millions  of  dollars  have  been 
awarded. 

Mr.  Carnegie,  being  well  pleased  with  the  administra- 
tion of  the  affairs  of  the  Art  Gallery  and  the  Museum 
as  well  as  of  the  Library,  resolved  to  add  another  fea- 
ture to  the  organization  known  as  the  Carnegie  Institute, 
and  he  therefore  made  an  offer,  which  was  accepted  by 
his  Trustees,  to  give  them  an  endowment  fund  of  two 
millions  of  dollars  for  the  maintenance  of  a  school 
which  was  intended  to  (In  f"r  the  youth  of  Pittshurij 
what  is  done  by  the  Pratt  Institute  in  Brooklyn.  He 
also  offered  to  erect  buildings  for  this  school  provided 
the  city  would  furnish  a  site.  This  the  municipality 
aereed  to  do.  and  a  piece  of  land  contiguous  to  Schen- 
lar  Park  and  just  east  of  the  Institute  was  purchased 
in  the  year  1903.  This  site  has  been  graded  and  plans 
for  the  buildings  are  in  course  of  preparation. 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  foregoing  brief  outline  of  the 


ig6  The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Haiui-Book 

successive  steps  in  its  development  that  the  Carnegie 
Institute  is  a  complex  of  institutions,  administered  by  a 
Board  of  Trustees  consisting  of  thirty-six  persons.  The 
Library,  the  support  of  which  has  been  assumed  by  the 
city  of  Pittsburg,  while  not  a  department  nf  the  Car- 
negie Institute,  yet  is  very  closely  allied  with  it,  and  is 
lodged  under  the  same  roof  with  the  Art  Gallery  and 
the  Museum.  The  maintenance  of  musical  activities  is 
provided  partly  by  the  municipality  and  partly  by  vol- 
untary contributions.  The  salary  of  the  paid  organist 
is  derived  from  the  amount  annually  appropriated  by 
the  city  for  the  maintenance  of  the  Library.  The  Or- 
chestra is  maintained  by  voluntary  contributions  and  by 
the  income  derived  from  the  sale  of  tickets. 

The  endowment  given  by  Mr.   Carnegie  to  the  Insti- 
tute maintains  the  three  following  separate  institutions: 
I.  The  Art  Gallery. 
II.    The  Carnegie  Museum. 
III.  The    Carnegie    Technical    Schools. 

The  care  of  each  of  these  three  departments  is  en- 
trusted to  special  committees  of  the  Board  of  Trustees. 
The  Art  Gallery  is  under  the  care  of  a  committee  the 
Chairman  of  which  is  ^Ir.  John  Caldwell.  The  Chair- 
man of  the  Committee  on  the  Museum  is  .Mr.  C.  C. 
Mellor.  The  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  the  Tech- 
nical Schools  is  Mr.  William  McConway.  An  executive 
officer  in  charge  of  each  one  of  these  three  departments 
is  chosen,  to  whom  the  title  of  Director  is  applied.  He 
is  resoonsible  to  the  Committee  having  charge  of  his 
department.  The  Director  of  the  Art  Gallery  of  the 
Institute  is  Mr.  John  W.  Beatty.  The  Director  of  the 
Carnegie  Museum  is  Dr.  W.  J  .Holland.  The  Director 
of  the  Technical  Schools  is  Mr.  A.  A.  Hamerschlag. 
Connected  with  each  of  these  institutions,  and  respon- 
sible to  the  respective  Directors,  is  a  body  of  persons 
possessing  the  necessary  qualifications,  who  constitute 
what  is  known  as  the  Staff  of  each  department.  The 
staff  of  the  Museum  consists  at  the  present  time  of 
thirty-si.x    persons,    scientists   and   preparators,   who   are 


Ciiniegie  I/istitute  igy 

responsible  to  the  Director,  Dr.  Holland,  for  the  per- 
formance of  their  various  duties.  The  staff  of  the 
Technical  schools  will  constitute  the  Facultj-  and  ad- 
ministrative force  of  the  schools,  the  organization  of 
which  will  be  in  its  outlines  analogous  to  that  of  other 
educational  institutions.  The  smallest  number  of  per- 
sons employed  by  any  one  of  the  departments  is  in  the 
Art  Gallery,  where  of  necessity  but  few  persons  are 
required. 

Since  the  establishment  of  Mr.  Carnegie's  foundation 
Pittsburg  has  rapidly  advanced  to  a  leading  position 
as  a  musical  centre.  The  first  organist  employed  was 
Frederick  Archer,  and  it  was  determined  to  give  the 
public  two  free  organ  recitals  weekly.  These  recitals 
take  place  on  Saturday  evening  and  on  Sunday  after- 
noon. Mr.  Archer  also  l:ecanie  the  conductor  of  the 
Pittsburg  Orchestra.  In  this  capacity  he  was  later 
replaced  by  Mr.  Victor  Herbert,  the  well-known  musical 
cotnposer.  When  Mr.  Archer  subsequently  died  he  was 
replaced  as  organist  by  Mr.  Edwin  H.  Lemare,  who 
came  to  the  Institute  from  St.  Margaret's,  Westminster, 
London.  In  Mr.  Archer  and  in  Mr.  Lemare.  Pitts- 
bur^r  has  enjoyed  the  services  of  two  of  the  most 
famous  organists  in  the  world.  In  1904  Mr.  \'ictor 
Herbert  resigned  his  position  as  conductor  of  the  Or- 
chestra, and  Mr.  Emil  Paur  of  \'ienna,  Austria,  was 
chosen  as  his  successor.  Pittshur'j;  is  one  of  the  few 
American  cities  which  maintain  a  large  and  well-traintd 
orchestra,  and  the  combined  influence  of  the  free  organ 
recitals  and  of  the  rendition  of  the  best  orchestral  music 
has  resulted  in  the  elevation  of  the  musical  taste  of  the 
connnunity  to  a   remarkable   degree. 

.\s  the  result  of  Mr.  Carnegie's  provi-inn  of  a  fine 
Music  Hall  has  been  the  elevation  of  musical  taste,  so 
his  gift  of  the  .\rt  Gallery  has  tended  to  elevate  the 
people  of  the  community  in  their  knowledge  and  appre- 
ciation of  the  pictorial  arts,  .\nnually  since  the  founda- 
tion of  the  Institute  an  exhiliition  has  been  given  in 
the  Carnegie  Art  Gallerie-i,  beginning  in   November  and 


igH  The  Pittsburg  Eleitrical  Hand- Book 

lasting  until  January,  to  which  almost  all  of  the  great 
artists  of  the  world  have  contrihuted  pictures,  and  in 
which  on  occasion  have  been  exhibited,  as  loans,  many 
of  the  most  important  and  beautiful  paintings  owned  in 
America.  The  annual  exhibition  of  pictures  at  the 
Carnegie  Institute  is  regarded  to-day  as  the  most  nota- 
ble exhibition  of  its  kind  which  occurs  in  America,  the 
standard  of  quality,  so  far  as  the  pictures  exhibited  are 
concerned,  being  remarkably  high.  In  the  addition  to 
the  building  of  the  Institute,  which  is  in  process  of 
construction,  there  will  be  added  to  the  gallery  for  the 
display  of  pictures  galleries  for  the  display  of  sculptures, 
photographs,  and  engravings,  and  this  section  of  the 
Institute  is  intended  to  do  for  Pittsburg  what  is  done 
for  New  York  by  the  American  Museum  of  Fine  Arts. 

The  Carnegie  Museum  has  rapidly  risen  to  importance 
among  the  greater  Museums  of  America,  and  is  to-day 
regarded  as  one  of  the  four  leading  institutions  of  its 
kind  in  the  United  States.  The  collections  which  have 
been  amassed  by  purchase  or  by  the  activities  of  its 
staff  are  very  large  and  very  important.  It  is  especially 
rich  in  paleontological  specimens,  some  of  the  most 
striking  collections  of  a  paleontological  character  in  the 
world  being  found  here.  It  is  also  very  rich  in  collec- 
tions in  other  branches  of  science  —  the  collections  of 
birds,  mammals,  insects  and  shells  being  very  large  and 
of  great  scientific  importance.  The  ethnological  collec- 
tions are  great.  In  archaeology  the  Museum  holds  a 
high  place,  and  the  largest  collection  of  the  antiquities 
of  Costa  Rica  in  existence  outside  of  that  state  is  found 
here.  The  Museum  publishes  annually  Annals  and 
Memoirs,  and  stands  in  relations  of  exchange  with  all 
the  other  great  museums  and  scientific  institutions  of 
the  world. 

The  Technical  Schools  have  not  yet  been  organized. 
Preliminary  work  in  the  preparation  of  plans  for  build- 
ings and  for  the  arrangement  of  a  curriculum  is  being 
carried  on.  No  definite  time  has  as  yet  been  set  for  the 
formal  opening  of  the  Schools  to  the  public. 


Carnegie  Institute  igg 

When  the  preparation  of  By-laws  for  the  government 
of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Institute  was  under- 
taken the  chairman  of  the  committee  in  charge  of  the 
work  inserted  a  clause  calling  for  the  observance  of  the 
anniversary  of  the  original  gift  of  the  first  building  as 
■■  Founder's  Day."  This  suggestion  was  heartily  ap- 
proved by  the  Board,  and  the  celebration  of  Found- 
er's Day  at  the  Institute  has  come  to  be  one  of 
the  striking  events  in  the  intellectual  and  social  life  of 
the  city.  The  occasion  has  been  dignified  by  the 
presence  of  some  of  the  most  famous  men  in  America, 
among  them  President  William  McKinley,  and  former 
President  Grover  Cleveland.  In  November,  1904,  the 
chief  speaker  will  be  the  Hon.  John  Morley,  one  of  the 
leading  men  of  Great  Britain. 


Carnegie  Tec/niical  School 


DUCATION  of  the  type  and  kind 
existing  in  the  past  finds  com- 
paratively few  adherents  willing 
to  devote  so  long  a  period  in  the 
short  span  of  life  to  the  acquire- 
ment of  a  well-rounded  knowl- 
edge on  all  suhjects.  The  trend 
to-day  is  towards  specialization 
in  education  as  in  business  in 
order  that  the  well-directed  en- 
ergies of  each  individual  may  go 
to  produce  a  more  efficient  net 
result  and  add  to  the  sum  total 
of  human   knowledge  and  efficiency. 

[Nlr.  Carnegie,  impressed  with  the  demand  for  tech- 
nical education,  needed  no  prescience  to  forecast  the  fu- 
ture ot  Pittsburg  in  this  demand.  He  gave  expression  of 
his  views,  with  his  usual  broad  philanthropy,  by  offering 
an  institution  to  the  city  of  Pittsburg  which  would  pro- 
vide this  specialized  instruction.  Immediately  following 
the  tender  of  an  institution  of  this  character  to  the  city 
of  Pittsburg,  with  no  other  request  than  that  suitable 
land  and  site  .should  be  provided  by  the  city,  the  offer  to 
equip,  endow  and  perpetuate  tlie  Carnegie  Technical 
Schools  was  received  with  evident  enthusiasm  by  the 
Pittsburg  community. 

The  question  of  an  educational  organization  was 
placed  in  the  hands  of  the  plan  and  scope  committee  of 
the  Carnegie  Institute,  who,  after  frequent  meetings 
and  consideration  of  this  subject,  outlined  an  institution 
whose  aim  and  purpose  appeared  to  meet  with  the 
approval  of  Air.  Carnegie. 

It  is  unnecessary  to  do  more  than  touch  upon  its  scope 
in  order  to  convey  its  breadth  of  purpose  and  its  wide- 
spread importance  to  the  entire  community. 

The  Carnegie  Technical  Schools  are  to  be  open  to  all 


Carnegie  Technical  School  201 

those  who  earnestly  desire  to  receive  technical  instruc- 
tion along  specific  lines  and  who  cannot  receive  this  in- 
struction in  any  other  school  in  the  community.  Its 
pitch  or  plan  is  superimposed  upon  the  public  system  of 
instruction,  the  grade,  ward  and  high  school,  yet  is 
somewhat  lower  in  its  entrance  requirements,  its  aim 
and  purpose  than  the  larger  universities  of  the  East, 
making  it  a  unique  educational  oroject  which  is  arrest- 
ing the  attention  of  both  educators  and  laymen  through- 
out the  United  States. 

Tlie  plan  of  operation  adopted  is  largelv  based  upon 
the  report  of  an  advisory  committee,  which  gave  much 
careful  thought  and  study  to  the  question,  together  with 
the  benefit  of  their  experience  in  order  to  determine  the 
character  of  an  institution  which  would  most  nearly  fit 
the  needs  of  this  community. 

Its  preliminary  developments  have  thus  far  taken  three 
lines  of  progress.  After  the  appointment  of  its  execu- 
tive and  administrative  head  last  November,  these  three 
lines  of  endeavor  were  prosecuted  with  the  utmost  vigor. 

In  the  first  place,  the  educational  side  received  due 
consideration  and  thought.  One  hundred  and  one  scien- 
tific lectures  were  given  in  Pittsburgh  and  vicinity  dur- 
ing a  seven  weeks'  period,  which  were  attended  by  over 
eighteen  thousand  individuals. 

Secondly,  consideration  was  given  ti>  the  existing  de- 
mand for  technical  educatiDii.  A  preliminary  canvass 
of  the  schools  and  factories  disclosed  a  student  enroll- 
ment of  over  five  thousand  individuals,  who  signified 
their  intention  and  desire  to  secure  technical  instruction 
as  soon  as  some  quarters  were  established. 

Lastly,  the  constructi\e  period  necessitated  careful 
study  of  the  existing  .schools  in  this  vicinity,  and  the 
preparation  of  a  program  of  competition  upon  which 
could  be  based  the  selection  of  an  architect  who  pos- 
sessed the  resourceful  qualities  necessary  to  carry  into 
execution  the  building  scheme. 

During  the  period  when  these  three  distinct  matters 
were  l)eing  prosecuted   it  was  felt  that  it  would  be  ad- 


202  The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Hand-Book 

visable  to  present  to  the  pul)lic  some  idea  of  the  char- 
acter of  the  instruction  to  be  given.  In  order  to  accom- 
plish this  purpose  a  number  of  public  addresses  were 
given.  These  addresses  supplemented  by  the  cordial 
support  of  the  public  press  have  infused  a  spirit  of 
enthusiasm  and  intense  interest  in  both  young  and 
old  in  the  projected  plans  for  the  erection  of  this  school. 

What  method  will  be  employed  in  forwarding  the 
educational  movement  during  the  coming  winter  has  not 
yet  been  announced.  The  preparation  of  plans,  the 
question  of  temporary  classes  and  the  continuation  of  the 
lecture  course  are  the  subjects  of  immediate  concern 
and  interest  to  the  committee  on  technical  schools  at 
the  present  time. 

It  is  the  present  intention  to  begin  only  on  a  scale 
commensurate  with  the  possibilities  of  efficient  utiliza- 
tion, allowing  for  expansion  as  the  demand  for  technical 
instruction  increases.  It  is  proposed  that  few  buildings 
should  be  built  at  the  beginning,  this  to  be  followed 
by  a  gradual  growth  in  the  construction  of  the  buildings. 

As  the  educational  area  becomes  utilized  to  its  fullest 
extent,  the  next  and  more  important  problem  to  be 
solved  is  that  of  the  selection  of  a  faculty  capable  of  ad- 
ministering to  the  needs  of  an  institution  of  the  char- 
acter outlined.  This  faculty  will  likewise  have  in  charge 
very  largely  the  equipping-  of  the  buildings,  great  care 
being  taken  to  have  this  equipment  of  such  a  character 
that  this  may  be  a  most  modern  and  complete  school. 

Its  influence  is  in  a  large  measure  dependent  upon 
the  virility,  character  and  personality  of  its  stafif,  and 
especially  is  this  so  of  an  institution  of  a  scientific  char- 
acter as  has  been  outlined. 

Men  who  have  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  subject 
and  who  have  the  faculty  of  imparting  that  knowledge 
to  others  are  the  kind  of  teachers  needed,  but  men  with 
character  who  can  wield  positive  influence  upon  their 
students  and  who  have  the  ability  for  entTiusing  the 
young  and  the  ambitious  are  not  readily  found. 

When  the  student  realizes  that  all  the  school  can  do 


Carnegie  Technical  School  20J 

for  him  is  to  help  him  to  solve  his  life  problem,  leaving 
it  for  him  to  develop  his  talent,  it  then  becomes  neces- 
sary that  the  kind  of  teaching  eiven  should  be  of  such 
a  character  as  shall  lead  him  in  the  most  direct  way 
to  the  accomplishment  of  the  end  sought  for  by  his  in- 
nate desires.  Keeping  this  aim  in  view,  the  future 
course  of  the  student  will  be  guided  in  a  large  measure 
by  the  advice  of  his  teacher,  who  will  be  able  in  some 
degree  to  determine  both  his  capacity  and  adaptability, 
and  whenever  a  student  shows  a  lack  of  capacity  or  un- 
decided attitude  it  is  hoped  that  the  personality  of  the 
teacher  will  be  surficiently  strong  to  guide  him  to  safe 
and  sure  points  of  interest  which  will  lead  to  his  ulti- 
mate advancement. 

The  fields  in  which  the  graduates  of  an  institution  of 
this  character  will  prove  useful  are  too  many  to  enumer- 
ate with  minuteness,  but  they  should  in  a  comparatively 
short  period  demonstrate  to  the  community  the  need 
for  instruction  of  this  character  and  prove  of  undoubted 
value  in  a  much  wider  sphere  of  influence. 

Graduates  should  find  ready  and  waiting  for  them 
places  in  all  the  manufacturing,  building  and  scientific 
industries  of  the  country ;  some  of  them  as  apprentices, 
others  as  journeymen  of  greater  skill  and  capacity 
than  the  past  generations  have  produced,  of  foremen, 
superintendents,  managers,  assistant  engineers  and  ar- 
chitects. 

The  women  graduates  should  find  places  as  wage- 
earners,  secretaries,  librarians,  and  costume  designers 
with  a  thorough  knowledge  of  domestic  art  and  science, 
whether  dealing  with  plain  design  or  the  utilization  of 
the  common  necesssities  of  life,  all  finding  their  training 
to  have  been  so  sound  in  fundamental  principles  that 
after  a  reasonable  amount  of  experience  and  practice 
they  can  become  leaders  in  the  lines  which  they  have 
selected. 

The  subject  of  civics,  pride  of  city  and  iumie,  is  one 
to  which  too  little  weight  is  given  by  the  average  tech- 
nical school.     It  is  expected  that   the  high  character  of 


204  ^^^'  Pittsburg  Electrical  Hand- Book 

the  members  of  the  faculty  of  this  institution  will  liave 
its  influence  socially  and  that  breadth  of  view  and  wide 
discernment  as  to  the  relations  of  the  individual  to  the 
community  will  best  tind  expression  in  the  graduates 
who  have  been  under  the  guidance  of  high-minded, 
purposeful   men   and   women. 

It  is  in  an  ideal  such  as  this,  a  philanthropy  which  recog- 
nizes and  assists  those  with  capacity,  virility,  knowledge 
and  enthusiasm,  that  a  broad  and  munificent  gift  such 
as  Mr.  Carnegie's  can  best  find  its  expression. 

The  following  prooosed  groups  of  buildings  will  con- 
vey a  clearer  description  of  scope  of  the  undertaking  and 
of  the  four  distinct  schools  projected: 

Admimstratvve  Group. — The  Administrative  Group 
should  be  so  designed  as  to  house  the  executive  depart- 
ment of  the  Institution,  make  provisions  for  the  social 
development  of  the  students,  and  provide  an  auditorium 
for  the  assemb'age  of  the  entire  School. 

School  of  Applied  Science. — This  group  must  be  de- 
signed to  administer  to  the  needs  of  a  School  of  Applied 
Science,  operative  for  both  day  and  night  students,  and 
for  the  training  nf  young  men  over  si.xteen  years  old 
during  periods  of  two  or  three  years,  for  such  callings 
as  Draughtsmen,  Inspectors.  Foremen,  Engineers'  As- 
sistants, and  numerous  other  positions  above  those  of 
the  skilled  mechanic,  where  intelligence  and  technical 
information  are  more  essential  than  manual  dexterity. 

In  this  School  a  large  part  of  the  instruction,  in- 
cluding that  in  shop  work,  will  be  given  in  Laboratories, 
Draughting  Rooms,  etc. 

To  make  this  instruction  thorough  and  effective  the 
entire  equipment  must  be  of  the  most  modern  type. 
The  machinery  and  appliances  will  be  of  such  a  char- 
acter and  so  used  that  an  economic  use  of  both  labor 
and  material  can"  be  demonstrated  in  a  manner  similar 
to  that  found  in  the  commercial  shops. 

In  the  arrangement  of  the  various  class  rooms,  labora- 
tories and  shops  of  this  Group,  the  principal  object 
sought  should  be  close  correlation. 


Carnegie  Technical  School  20§ 

The  School  for  Aff^reiiticcs  ami  Journeymen. — Tliis 
Group  should  be  adapted  to  the  night  instruction  of 
students.  The  School  for  Apprentices  and  Journeymen 
will  offer  a  system  of  instruction  for  the  further  educa- 
tion of  apprentices  already  at  work  in  the  trade,  who 
will  receive  at  night  technical  and  theoretical  informa- 
tion, coupled  wath  a  fair  amount  of  that  practical  demon- 
stration necessary  to  their  ultimate  advancement  into 
the  ranks  of  skilled  mechanics.  The  object  of  this  night 
instruction  is  to  supplement  the  daily  practice  of  the 
apprentices,  but  it  must  not  be  supposed  that  this  School 
will  in  any  sense  endeavor  to  turn  out  skilled  mechanics. 
The  students,  upon  completing  this  course  supplemented 
by  their  daily  apprenticeship,  would  necessarily  continue 
to  serve  the  balance  of  their  time  in  commercial  opera- 
tions, prior  to  their  beintr  ranked  as  skilled  mechanics. 

This  School  Group  will  also  provide  for  the  educa- 
tion and  training  of  those  mechanics  in  the  building 
and  manufacturing  trades,  who  are  already  rated  as 
journeymen,  giving  them  an  opportunity  to  supplement 
and  develop  their  intellectual  powers,  so  that  they  may 
relatively  keep  in  advance  of  the  apprentice  and  find  a 
wider  opportunity  for  their  skill,  experience  and  knowl- 
edge of  their  subject,  which  will  insure  to  them  further 
advancement  to  ]:)iisitions  such  as  foreman,  superintend- 
ents, master  mechanics,  etc. 

The  course  of  instrjiction  in  the  school  for  Appren- 
tices and  Journeymen  will  be  so  arranged  that  the  stu- 
dents will  have  an  opportunity  to  acciuire  familiarity 
with  materials,  knowledge  of  the  basic  principles  em- 
ployed, and  of  the  mechanical  and  working  drawings, 
elements  of  physics  and  chemistry  and  a  familiarity 
with  new  materials  and  the  most  modern  tools. 

The  instruction  must  be  accurately  based  on  the  stand- 
ard demanded  in  the  skilled  labor  market,  and  must 
be  constantly  adjusted  to  conform  to  the  changing  con- 
ditions demanded  in  the  various  industries,  consequent 
upon  the  use  of  new  materials  and  new  methods  of 
manufacture  or  construction. 


206  The  Pittsburg  Electrical  Hand-Book 

The  shops,  laboratories  and  class  rooms  required  for 
this  School  Group  will  therefore  be  equipped  in  the 
most  complete  manner,  so  that  the  practical,  as  well  as 
the  theoretical,  part  of  the  instruction  may  be  at  all 
times  closel)'  related  to  the  best  practice  in  commercial 
work.  The  arrangement  between  the  shops,  class  rooms 
and  draughting  rooms  should  be  such  as  to  permit  the 
closest  possible  correlation  in  the  work  carried  on  in 
these  sections. 

Technical  School  for  Jl'ouioi. — This  Group  should 
be  designed  to  house  a  technical  school  for  women,  giv- 
ing instructions  to  both  da}-  and  evening  students.  The 
School  will  be  strictly  practical  in  character  and  will 
have  for  its  principal  aim  the  training  of  women  to  earn 
their  livelihood.  Its  purpose  will  be  to  give  to  them  a 
technical  training  or  special  skill  in  various  subjects, 
which  will   increase  their  earning  power. 

It  will  offer  courses  of  two  grades : 

First:  Short  courses  of  the  trade  character  adapted 
to  those  of  comparatively  limited  natural  ability  and 
previous  intellectual  training,  to  enable  them  in  the 
shortest  possible  time  to  become  skilled  workers. 

Second :  Longer  and  more  technical  courses  for  ma- 
ture women  with  more  intellectual  ability,  to  fit  them 
for  more  responsible  and  remunerative  positions.  These 
courses  will  be  about  three  years  in  length. 

There  will,  therefore,  be  needed  in  this  School,  for 
the  practical  instruction  which  is  intended  the  kitchens, 
laundries,  etc. :  work  rooms  for  millinery,  dressmaking, 
etc.,  and  special  laboratories  or  shops,  carefully  de- 
signed for  the  purposes  indicated,  and  in  accordance 
with  the  best  precedents  found  in  hospitals,  hotels  and 
commercial  establishments. 

Evening  instruction  will  be  of  the  same  practical 
character  a?  that  given  in  the  day  courses. 

School  of  Applied  Design. — This  School  should  be 
designed  to  accommodate  classes  in  the  design,  tech- 
nique and  mechanical  processes  of  the  various  Art  In- 
dustries  specified.     The   purpose   of  the   School   will   be 


Carnegie  Technical  School  20J 

to  instruct  those  who  aspire  to  become  skilled  workers 
as  well  as  designers  after  a  reasonable  amount  of  ex- 
perience, who  are  familiar  with  the  technical  require- 
ments of  these  industries. 

There  will  be  needed  to  accomplish  this  purpose,  well 
equipped  work  rooms,  where  the  students  can  apply  the 
designs  which  thej-  have  created,  under  conditions  close- 
ly resembling  those  that  thev  will  find  later  in  commer- 
cial work  of  like  character.  The  principal  part  of  the 
instruction  will  be  of  this  practical  character. 

There  will  be  given  in  this  School,  instruction  in 
both   day  and  evening   classes. 

If  these  aims  above  set  forth  can  be  accomplished  it 
is  needless  to  comment  upon  the  ultimate  widespread 
usefulness  of  this  institution  in  developing  not  alone 
its  owm  character  and  growth,  but  serving  as  a  medium 
for  developing  the  character  of  the  entire  Pittsburgh 
communitv. 


Map  of 

PlTTSBURQ 

SHOWING  LOCATION  OF 

WESTIKGHOUSE   INTERESTS. 

Reached  "by  SIcam  and  Trolley  Lines 

Railroads:  Trolley  Linea:  ■  ■  i  i  ■ 

Inter  Works  Railroads 


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UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 

Santa  Barbara 


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A     000  570  620     5 


The 
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■■■■■lii   :'  " 


